Tag Archives: Extreme

A Psychotic Car ? – Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI eXtreme RS450

In 1973 Mitsubishi launched one of it’s most successful vehicles in the form of the 4 door tin top Lancer of which 6 million examples had been built by 2008. Spanning 5 model generations name variations according to specific markets included; Colt Lancer, Dodge/Plymouth Colt, Chrysler Valiant Lancer, Chrysler Lancer, Eagle Summit, Hindustan Lancer, Soueast Lioncel, Mitsubishi Mirage, Mitsubishi Galant Fortis and Mitsubishi Lancer Fortis.

Mitsubishi became the second Japanese manufacturer to win the East African Safari Rally in 1974 when Joginder Singh and David Doig beat Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius driving a much faster but unreliable Porsche 911. Joginder and David won the Safari Rally, as it had by now become known in 1976, again driving a 1600 Lancer GSR.

In In the 1980’s Mitsubishi’s officials motorsport programmes were placed in the hands of Ralliart with former Rally Driver Andrew Cowan playing a prominent role. In 1996 Ralliart signed Tommi Mäkinen to drive it’s works Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III Rally cars and the combination won not only the 1996 Safari Rally but also the 1996 World Rally Drivers Championship.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI eXtreme RS450

Driving successive Evo IV, V and VI models Tommi won 3 more consecutive World Championships with Mitsubishi also winning the manufacturers title in 1998. By the end of 2001 Tommi had racked up 22 World Rally wins in Ralliart prepared Lancers.

Alongside it’s rally preparation business Ralliart also upgraded cars for customers and sold a range of performance goodies and today’s featured car, owned by fellow Bristol Pegasus Motor Club member Trevor Hartland is one that was upgraded by Ralliart.

Today’s featured car started life as a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI RSII, a model close to the top of the factory finished performance tree with the Anti Yaw Control (AYC) and Anti Lock Brakes (ABS) deleted to save weight and give the driver maximum control.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI eXtreme RS450

The Ralliart Evolution VI RSII “eXtreme” upgrade package included 18 inch wheels, lowered suspension with new bushes and top mounts, high ratio steering rack (just two turns lock to lock), plenty of interior and exterior carbon fiber.

A special Electronic Control Unit boosted the power up to 340hp with 303lb/ft torque at 3000 rpm enough to take one from rest to 60 mph in just 4 seconds, only 26 Evo VI RSII’s were upgraded to “eXtreme” spec plus an additional older Evo V. Today’s featured car is the 11th of the 26 Evo VI RSII “eXtreme” models.

The RS450 was a UK spec only upgrade on the “eXtreme” which was fitted to just four vehicles of which only three remain. The more or less competition RS450 spec includes among many more items a Ralliart blue printed motor with competition spec crankshaft,connecting rods, forged pistons, with high lift cams competition gasket, lightened valves.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI eXtreme RS450

For swift gear changes a phosphor bronze gear linkage bush kit was fitted, while the suspension is Group N, National competition spec with Ralliart strut braces front and rear and the brakes are to match.

The RS450 name was chosen because it was intended that the model would produce 450 lb per foot torque but the final figure was just over 380 lb per foot torque, enough described as “psychotic” by one commentator, to reach 60mph from rest in just 3.8 seconds and 100 mph in 8.8 seconds, not bad for a vehicle that cost £45,000 new in 2000.

Trevor’s car was the only white RS450 built and uniquely does has a colour coded rear wing at the original owners request after he was less than enamoured with the original red one. In 2001 this car covered the 1/4 mile Brighton speed trials in 12.53 seconds for a class winning 119mph run.

When Trevor last had his pride and joy tested on a rolling road the motor was conservatively mapped to produce 449 hp and 469 lb per foot torque with 1.8 bar of boost !

My thanks to Trevor Hartland for sharing these photo’s of his rare Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI eXtreme RS450.

Thanks for joining me on this “A Psychotic Car” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Americana Thursday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Never Seen It As Bad As This ! – Prescott Speed Hill Climb

Britain’s wettest drought in history continued apace this weekend, but I did not let that get in the way of attending 3 very different events in 3 days. I’ll not be blogging them in order for any particular reason but I’ll start with the last one, Prescott Speed Hillclimb which I attended yesterday afternoon, first and post blogs on the Bristol Italian Auto Moto Festival on Sunday and the Spring Performance Car Action Day at Castle Combe next Monday.

March 792, Prescott SHC

I got to Prescott yesterday afternoon just in time to have a quick £3.00 bacon sarnie and have a quick look around the paddock before making my way to the top of the hill. The last time I saw a March 792 sporting Philip Morris Marlboro colours for Swedish hot shot Eje Elgh, like the one above belonging to Stuart Ridge, was 25th March 1979 at Silverstone.

Porsche 996 GT3, Prescott SHC

The two days had much in common it was close to freezing at Silverstone and only 4º C yesterday, at both events it was absolutely tipping with rain but mercifully there are a few more trees at Prescott which gave a vestigal illusion of shelter from the strong Easterly winds. Above Robert Lancaster-Gaye above heads for a over 2000 cc / 122 cui Road Going class win in his Porsche 996 GT3.

Ginetta G15, Prescott SHC

Before I left home I checked the weather and there were severe weather and flood warnings for the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside in which Prescott is located. Andrew Russell could not get below 60 seconds in the Modified Series Production class Hillman Imp powered Ginetta G15.

Westfield iRacer, Prescott SHC

With a 120 mph capability and 0-60 time of 5 seconds the Westfield iRacer is shockingly quick for a vehicle that is barely audible thanks to it’s two 100 hp electric motors which drive each rear wheel. The iRacer was being demonstrated in racing spec which has a 15 minute battery life. 2/3rds of the battery weight can be saved for hill climb events which, in the UK, rarely last more than a minute per run.

Chevrolet Special, Prescott SHC

Part of the attraction of going to Prescott was the promise of seeing some big brutal cars with plenty of horsepower, nothing quite prepared me for the two Chevrolet Specials and Jagernought Rover which were built for sand racing in the Channel Isles, thats Gurnsey, Jersey and Alderney in the English Channel. Scot Rayson’s Chevrolet Special above used to be Jaguar powered, it still has the Jaguar running gear but is now powered by a 6.3 litre 384 cui Chevy V8. Spare a thought for the Sand Racers who as I write this are headed back across the English Channel in significantly less than calm waters.

OMS 25, Prescott SHC

One reason today’s blog was posted a little late is that the intelweb will tell you the driver of the car above is Tricia Davis to add to the confusion the programme tells me that the car is a Reynard 913 which it most certainly is not. The programme tells me Tricia did not take part while a Terry Davis did but also in a Reynard. I believe most of the photo’s on the interweb showing this helmet and ascribing it to Tricia are incorrectly labeled and vice versa for Terry Davis. I further believe that Terry has acquired or at the very least borrowed an OMS 25 for the event. My ears were too wrapped up against the weather to discern if this information was disseminated over the Prescott tanoy. Please correct me below if I have that completely wrong !

DJ Firehawk, Prescott SHC

As I was walking down the hill during the event one marshal quipped that he had never seen the conditions so bad, fortunately this did not stop Wallace Menzies claiming a Race Cars over 2000 cc / 122 cui class victory in the #4 Cosworth powered Tillicoultry Quarries DJ Firestorm, that’s a Firestorm model manufactured by DJ Race Cars. To the left of the #4 DJ Firestorm Lee Adams can be seen telling a journalist….

GWR Raptor, Prescott SHC

how he stormed up Prescott in 43.82 seconds to claim fastest time of the day (FTD) in his giant killing up to 1600 cc / 97.6 cui class GWR Raptor Extreme, seen commencing his final run above.

My thanks to the Prescott press office for a hot off the press copy of the unconfirmed results which not only allowed me to share the information here but also warmed my hands up nicely as I walked back to the car.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Never Seen It As Bad As This !’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I shall be looking at continuing the series of blogs on Colin Coppers specials looking at the Kayne Special III. Don’t forget to come back now !

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