A non-Evolution Lancer drives like middle-class dreck. Not much steering feel, neither terrible nor great in terms of handling... not really as much potential in the engine department as a Honda or a Nissan. The new Lancer Ralliarts are fine, but still don't handle any better than your typical front-drive Lancer... despite having near-Evo spec hardware.
What constitutes a good first racecar depends on where you want to race and what you want to race in. If you want to race in a stock series or autocross, then the double-wishbone Honda Civics are a very good choice. Free-revving and reliable engines, light bodies, a sophisticated suspension, a ton of readily available cheap upgrade parts and a big community of enthusiasts to learn tuning tricks from.
Failing that, whatever is second best in terms of race-able econoboxes depends on where you actually live. If you're in the US, you can pick up an SR20-equipped Nissan Sentra for pretty cheap. They're not perfect... older B13s have no suspension travel and woeful gearboxes, B14s aren't much better in terms of suspension travel and have a rear cart-axle, and B15s are heavy for the amount of engine they have... but a well set up B13 or B14 is a pretty good starter car. Suspension travel is not a big issue when you've upgraded to coil-overs and are driving on a racetrack. And if you want to go crazy, the SR20 has nearly as much potential as the bigger 2.5 in the Neon SRT4.
Then there's the Mazdaspeed Protege... available with a lightly tuned two liter turbo and a great stock suspension and LSD.... or the Dodge Neon ACR... or...
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You could also get a Subie... but they're heavier, faster and more complicated... with more stuff to break. And the older ones and non-STIs aren't as dynamically capable as you'd think.
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But if you're seriously looking at investing in a track-car, then a Miata should be at the top of your list. Fast enough (on track) to be interesting. Slow enough not to be deadly. And well mannered enough that when you do have your first off (and you will have one, if you're really trying), it won't be a huge one. If you're going for a newer NC, go for the facelift. The steering feel and suspension on the pre-facelift is rubbish in comparison.
Nissan Silvia/240sxs are available almost anywhere. You can get an older one for decent money, and they're well-balanced. Not quite as incisive as a Miata, but a good, forgiving "starter" sportscar, with many available modifications, both in terms of power and handling.
