Could Mitsubishi make a succesful return to the WRC!

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Skid Mark 33

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So I was sitting here in the computer chair when I thought to myself, could Mitsubishi make a succesful return to the WRC. They have the money, they have the staff, and most importantly the expirence and the motovation to win. So whats stopping them. Sure, their last couple of season's as a works team was a complete and utter disaster for a team with a huge history of long running success, but this is not to say they would still fail to regain their form if they returned. So simple question, whats stopping them?
 
The Evo X is being used as a pace car somwhere in the rallying world
mitsubishi-evo-coche-0-00.jpg


I think its motivation, not doing well last time must have made them think, whats the point. But perhaps with WRC's new found cheaperness compared to when Mitsubishi were last in it, they may have a better chance, plus with so many hot drivers around it may spur them on. They should return.
 
Exactly. And that picture made me think. I can really see a good world rally car in the Mitsubishi Evo X!
 
It should make a good rally car, but it needs to be a great rally car to rival the C4 and Focus at the moment.
 
Isn't it also about having a decent driver too? xD
 
Yes, but like MildAshers said, there is a lot of hot talent around at the moment. Finding good talent wouldn't be so hard!
 
Skid Mark 33
They have the money, they have the staff, and most importantly the expirence and the motovation to win.
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I think I would argue that they don't actually have the money. I'm sure Mitsu would rather make sure that their recent economic upturn is a lasting one before they start spending money they may not have that they probably feel they don't need to spend in the first place.
 
With the Dakar Rally taking place, Mitsubishi obviously cannot focus on it at the moment, but certainly it is possible, given the car's previous rally success in various incarnations. It could bring rallying to new heights, having this rivalry back again... and it is something familiar to GT players.
 
superberkut
With the Dakar Rally taking place, Mitsubishi obviously cannot focus on it at the moment, but certainly it is possible, given the car's previous rally success in various incarnations. It could bring rallying to new heights, having this rivalry back again... and it is something familiar to GT players.
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Didn't you hear that the Dakar Rally got canceled this year because of terroist threats!
 
They're already running pretty successfully in the Dakar and they probably don't have the money.
 
One could argue that Mitsubishi doesn't need the WRC as they are already getting plently of coverage from the thousands of Group N teams running various EVOs. This gives Mitsubishi tons of free advertising (in fact people are paying for their cars) and their success is based on cars that have a clear link to Mitsubishi's actual road cars.
 
Another question based off this is if Mitsubishi still wants to go for it, in light of, as you said (Gashlycrumb), the Evo's wild success in Group N. I heard the Skyline's entry was disastrous...

The car is certainly capable of rallying, though, and not much would have to be changed to prepare the car for new terrain or new driving conditions.
 
There would be quite a few changes required to make it comply with WRC regulations though. Those changes would also move the car further away from the road cars they are based on. It would only make sense from a marketing point of view as from a development/engineering point of view Group N is a great test bed, and it only makes sense from a marketing perspective if you win. If I was Mitsubishi I would invest my money on better road cars and focus on remaining in the black and let my Group N and Dakar successes speak for me.
 
I assume you're right (in the least offensive way possible), seeing that the Lancer was not racing in any rallying events when the new Evo was being tested, only the Evo 8s were being driven, if they were still around, and not by works teams.

However, if the engineers drew off the last Evo, then the car should theoretically be a natural rally racer, even if Mitsubishi plans to stay in Group N. At least they appear to be beating the Nissan Skylines.

Who knows if the fans want to see it, though, or if its classic rivalry with the Subaru Impreza may lead the Evo to the WRC again.
 
Evo 8s and 9s (even 6s are still very popular in Group N) are still running in the Group N, some with factory support, so I would be surprised if Rallying wasn't a component in the development of the EVO X. Particularly as they are releasing a RS version which will no doubt become the tool of choice for many Group N teams. The STI/EVO rivalry is still alive and well in Group N and is very exciting to watch.

I am sure that would translate well into a STI/EVO/FOCUS rivalry if they chose to re-enter the WRC.
 
The problem with Group N is that it's rarely televised. Usually, when it is, it's a small, localized championship. The primary exception is the American rallies...which would change, if we got a WRC round over here. I'd want that over the USGP, actually. just find the roads they filmed the first five episodes of "The Dukes of Hazzard" on or something.

The problem with the WRC rules for Mitsubishi, is that they need to make sure their car is competitive against the Fords (all what, six of them?) and Citroens, and, possibly the Subarus, depending on how the '08 WRCs do. otherwise, the increased coverage could be bad for them instead of good.
 
X Games then? The awareness of this car is already high in the U.S., but if they were to rally, that is the only event I can think of that may be less problematic, yet popular.
 
X Games would count as a Group N event. Like I said, the primary exception to lack of coverage in the Group N formula is in America, at least, from what I can see.
 
Group N is very big in the Asia-Pacific (Japan,NZ,Australia) region.
 
Really big in fact the NZ championship is only open to Group N cars (and Kiwi2 which is basically NA FWD) actually now i think about it all major championships are held for Group N cars
 
Other than the WRC, which has their own formula, and still much more coverage.
 
Like I said in the first post of this thread, they have the money and the motavation to win. Not only that, they have also been very succesfull in the British Rally Championship over the last few years. Sure, it would be harder in the World Rally Championship, be they have the resources, and that is what matters most when entering a Rally Championship. Yes, you need good drivers as well, but what is the point when you don't have the resources to make a good car. This is because no matter how hard the driver tries, he won't be able to do well. Luckily, Mitsubishi do have the resources.

Edit: When I said "in the first post of this thread", this is because I used to be Skid Mark 33, before I decided to create a new account because I was getting annoyed with my old one, plus I wanted to change my username. Just saying this so nobody thinks (or should think) I am taking credit!
 
Is there an advantage to using Hatchbacks in WRC? Like, a rules thing that lessens restrictions?

at least it looks better than Subarus.
 
Well, their design ensures that on tougher rallies, they are more structurally rigid than sedans and slightly smaller, making them more wieldy on tricky surfaces, and they could be more aerodynamically efficient. However, it may just be that Mitsubishi is following Subaru to increase the effect of a win in the event. (If one company created better hatchbacks than the other, which would you buy?)
 
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