2002 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII WRC - #8 (AUTOart) 1/18

2002 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII WRC - #8 (AUTOart) 1/18


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Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart starts the 2002 FIA World Rally Championship season with an all-new driver line-up and its first full competitive season with the Lancer Evolution WRC. With just 53 days between the finish of the 2001 Rally of Great Britain and the 2002 season-opener in Monte Carlo, both François Delecour/Daniel Grataloup and Alister McRae/David Senior have undergone an intense period of familiarisation, not only with their new team but also the Lancer Evolution WRC.

Deploying their respective expertise will undoubtedly have proved beneficial in the build-up to the first two specialist events of the season. Despite both drivers being renowned for their all-round driving skills, François’ career began on asphalt roads and, as a consequence, the Frenchman focused on the Monte Carlo test, while Alister travelled to the snowy wastes of Lapland in preparation for the second round of the season, the Swedish Rally.

Both drivers benefited from the expertise of Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart’s test driver Lasse Lampi, the Finn who has been an integral part in the development and success of the Lancer Evolution. In France, Delecour covered over 700 kilometres on stages typical of the treacherous Rallye Monte Carlo, encompassing damp, slippery and icy roads near Sisteron and St. Maxime. The Frenchman was impressed from the outset.

"The car feels very good, I’m extremely impressed", he said. "The Mitsubishi engine is very good; with some world rally cars the engine has a short rev range, but this has a very long, smooth power band, which is useful on gravel but essential for tarmac.

AUTOart Diecast Model No. 80252