2009 RALLY AMERICA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

With the first five rally events of the 2009 Rally America National Championship in the record books already, the top Regional and National rally teams from across the United States and Canada will soon be making their way to the tiny resort village of Newry, Maine for the New England Forest Rally – home to the Sunday River Resort and round #6 of the 9-event Rally America National Championship.

Set for Friday and Saturday, July 17 & 18, 2009, as many as 45 or more top-level rally teams are expected to be competing on some of the fastest gravel and forest roads in the country for top honors at this always-popular rally event.

Sitting atop the Rally America National points championship right now and expected to be competing at this year’s New England Forest Rally is 3-time Rally America Champion and Freestyle Motocross legend Travis Pastrana who drives for Subaru Rally Team USA – the factory-backed rally team based in Colchester, Vermont. Along with his teammates Ken Block, co-founder of DC Shoes USA, and X Games & BMX legend Dave Mirra, the Subaru rally team will be looking for another overall rally victory at this year’s New England Forest Rally.

Also expected at the top of the charts at this year’s event will be Canadian rally Ace Antoine L’Estage along with his Co-Driver and fiance’ Nathalie Richard driving their John Buffum-prepared & Rockstar Energy-backed Mitsubishi Evolution X. A former overall winner of the New England Forest Rally, L’Estage is a very technical driver as well as a multi-time Canadian Rally Champion who can’t be overlooked regarding the overall victory in Maine.

New to this year’s New England Forest Rally will be a large contingent of Regional rally teams from across the Northeastern United Sates and Eastern Canada. These teams will be competing for their share of $15,000 in prize money as the Maine-based rally will be just one of three rally events in the United States that make up the 3-round MaxAttack! Championship for Regional rally teams for 2009 – the other two rally events include Rally Idaho and the Ojibwe Forests Rally in Minnesota.

Although the New England Forest Rally will be contested over two days and 125 plus miles of gravel and forest stages for the National competitors, the Regional rally teams will compete on the very same roads as the National teams, but in two separate 1-day Regional rally events run simultaneously with the National rally.

Friday’s Regional rally will be known at the “Drive Your Future Rally” presented by the National Guard and will be highlighted by a “Super Special” in the town of Mexico, Maine. Taking place at the Mexico Recreational Area located just off Rt. 17 in Mexico, spectators will be have the opportunity to watch their favorite rally driver or team complete an entire gravel rally stage, complete with a jump, from start to finish right in front of them. Fans will also have the chance for an up-close look at the service crews as they take care of their rally cars at the Service Park which will also be based at the Mexico Recreation Area. As a special attraction for fans of all ages, National Guard units from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont will be on hand at the Mexico Recreation Area with a large display of state-of-the-art military vehicles to check out.

On Saturday, July 18, 2009, the rally action moves west along Route 2 to Coos County and the city of Berlin in Northern New Hampshire where rally teams will compete on a series of gravel and forest stages from Berlin north along the Androscoggin River to the sleepy village of Errol and beyond. A number of scenic spectator areas will be available along the competition stages where fans will be able to watch their favorite drivers compete. They will also be treated to a “Super Special” in Berlin on Saturday morning where teams will test their skills on a half-mile course that winds its way in and around the old Berlin paper mill site located on the north side of the city.

Also available throughout the 2-day New England Forest Rally will be a number of spectator buses provided by the Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine. The busses will depart from a variety of locations and take interested spectators out to the designated viewing areas along the rally course. Tickets for the spectator busses can be purchased the day of the event and will cost just $5.00 per person!

Amateur photographers will again have the opportunity to participate in Rally America’s popular photo contest where they can submit their best shots from the New England Forest Rally for a chance to win great prizes – visit www.rally-america.com for all the details.

For ongoing live updates through out the New England Forest Rally or for more information regarding a detailed event schedule, lodging and an on-line Spectator Guide, please visit the official Rally America web site at www.rally-america.com.

Sponsors for this year’s New England Forest Rally include Subaru of America; DC Shoes; Endless Brakes; Exedy Racing Clutches; Q Racing Oil; the Army National Guard; Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine; the Team O’Neil Rally School from Dalton, NH and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Rally car racing is considered the extreme sport of automobile racing and is often described simply as “real cars, real roads, real fast.” This all-season motorsport sees drivers and their co-drivers taking modified road cars to the limit as they achieve blistering speeds over courses that cover more than 100 miles of gravel, dirt or snow-covered roads known as stages.

The 2009 Rally America National Championship series consists of nine exciting events that take place throughout the United States in many different weather and road conditions. Top teams in the Rally America Championship are also invited to compete in ESPN’s Summer X Games, the leading action sports event broadcast live on ABC and ESPN. Eight top teams have already been invited to this August’s contest. Among the marquees typically represented in Rally America events are Subaru, Mitsubishi, Dodge, Ford and Volkswagen.

SPORTS CARS WEEKEND

Whether you drive a cherry ’67 Hemi Charger , built 2009 Mitsubishi Evolution X, or anything inbetween, Saturday June 27th stands to be a great day for sports car enthusiasts. Those who want to take their car out and beat the asphalt a little, the Detroit SCCA is holding their Spring Fling Solo event at the Palace of Auburn Hills and Bakers of Milford is hosting another car show; this time for a great charity.

Bakers of Milford Classics for the Cure Car Show – June 27, Milford Michigan

If you would rather check out some vintage and modern show cars, head to Bakers of Milford for their Classics for the Cure Car Show this Saturday from 10am to 2pm. All proceeds of this event go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, helping to raise funds to help fight breast cancer. Entry for classic cars is $15 at the gate the day of the show, and the first 100 vehicles will receive an event dash plaque. I plan to hit the show to cover it, but if you’re in the area on Saturday, stop by and help support the charity car show. If you haven’t been to Bakers, they do car shows like few other businesses in the Metro area and its well worth the drive from anywhere in Detroit! For pictures of the Michigan F-Body Association event at Bakers, click here!

Detroit Sports Car Club of America June 27 – Palace of Auburn Hills

If you want to test yourself and the abilities of your car, check out the Detroit SCCA site, where you can get full information for their event this Saturday. You don’t need a heavily modified race car to compete either, and if you are not familiar with the SCCA event layout, check out my coverage from the previous event by clicking here (including pictures of some of the competitors). From a Mazda Miata to a Noble M400 to a Ford Lightning, the field is more diverse than any other form of racing with both stock and modified vehicles.

This event was originally to be held at Belle Isle, but was moved to the Palace and rescheduled for this weekend. Registration opens at 8am and if it’s anything like the Belle Isle event, it will fill quickly so if you want to race your car in a safe, confined area, come on out to support the local SCCA group!

EVO's DEBUT in HOLLYWOOD

(OPENPRESS) June 25, 2009 -- Driven by the latest crew of 'Hell Drivers', the Lancer Evolution is the star of the 20 minute stunt driving show, taking place in an all-new purpose built arena.

Featuring breathtaking stunts, precision driving and incredible scenes of exhilarating action, this highly anticipated, multi-million dollar live production cannot be missed.

The perfect combination of brutal force and precise control, the Lancer Evolution has the power and technology to drive any stunt driver to new, exciting, daring, and death-defying heights.

The Hollywood Stunt Driver team features some serious heavy-weights from the world of competitive motorsport including V8 Supercar hero, Warren Luff and renowned champion drifter Eugene Arendsen.

In front of screaming crowds, these Hell Drivers regularly put on a spectacle of blockbusting movie thrills, bringing the glamorous world of Hollywood action film-making to life with the aid of the stunning Lancer Evolution.

Powered by an inter-cooled and turbo charged 2.0-litre DOHC inline four cylinder engine, generating an impressive 217kW of power at 6500 rpm and 336Nm of torque at 3500 rpm, Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution is available with a revolutionary Twin Clutch Sport Shift transmission, super all wheel control system and Brembo brakes.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is available at Mitsubishi Ralliart Dealers nationally.

BAIE DES CHALEURS SERIES

STOUFFVILLE, ON (CARS Media) - A close championship battle will be contested by a deep field at the 2009 Rallye Baie-Des-Chaleurs in New Richmond, Que., third round of the Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru and supported by Yokohama. Just six points separate the top four teams, with a win earning 22 points. Every move up the order is critical for the teams vying for the title of 2009 Canadian Rally Champion.

Subaru Rally Team Canada's Pat Richard, of Squamish, BC, and co-driver Alan Ockwell share the championship lead and are defending 2008 Canadian Rally Champions.

"We really need to manage our speed at this event," says Richard, "The championship is so close that you can't really back off to save the car, but this event is rough and you need to be careful."

Antoine L'Estage and co-driver Nathalie Richard of St-Jean-sur-Richlieu, Que., share the lead with Richard and Ockwell. The pair won the opening round of the series in the debut of their Mitsubishi Evolution X, but suffered development problems at the Rocky Mountain Rally in May.

"Baie-Des-Chaleurs is going to be a really interesting rally for the fans and teams, with so much competition," said L'Estage. "I don't want to let Ken Block win again!"

Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino both hail from California, U.S., and will be the entry from the Subaru Rally Team USA. The pair won the rally in 2008, their first time at Baie.

"The atmosphere is something very close to what you see in a WRC or European championship event and that makes Baie quite unique in North American rally," said Gelsomino. "Those are truly world class roads, really enjoyable to drive but they don't give much of a chance if you make a mistake."

Canadian Andrew Comrie-Picard and co-driver Jen Horsey will be in their Mitsubishi Evolution X. Andrew is a close contender just four points behind the leaders in the Canadian Rally Championship.

"It's great to have such a hotly contested event," said Comrie-Picard. "The depth of the field will really enhance the pleasure of the event for teams and fans alike."

Sylvain Erickson of Gatineau, Que., will also be mixing it up at the front, and sits just six points back from the championship leaders. Erickson has teamed up with veteran co-driver Brian Maxwell of Port Hope, Ont., in an effort to find more speed.

"This will be the first time working with a co-driver who is really good with stage notes," said Erickson. "Brian has a lot of experience that should help me go even faster."

This year's entry nears 50 cars, and will be highlighted by Martin Gauvin and Daniel Duchesneau of New Richmond, Que., and Craig Henderson and Lyne Murphy also of New Richmond, Que. Both have earned podium finishes in the past and are viable threats on their hometown roads.

Nick and Kelly Mathew of Caledon, Ont., will aim for more valuable championship points after a third place finish at the Rocky Mountain Rally.

Jan and Jody Zedril are entered after a bad crash at the Rocky Mountain Rally in late May left their two wheel drive Mitsubishi Lancer in need of repairs. Currently second place in the Two Wheel Drive Championship, and their rivals not entered, the Zedrils have a great opportunity to move up in the standings.

"Work started on the car as soon as we got home from Rocky, and we're all set to go," said Jody Zedril.

The event, held June 26-27, 2009, includes 190 kilometers of competitive stages run near the town of New Richmond on the south shore of the Gaspe Peninsula.

Rally car racing is often described simply as "real cars, real roads, real fast." The all-season motorsport sees drivers and their co-drivers take modified road cars to the limit as they achieve blistering speeds over closed-road courses that typically cover more than 150 kilometres of gravel, dirt or snow-covered roads. Fans can get up close to the cars in the service areas and catch all the action from specially designated spectator points located at the best spots on the route.

The Canadian Rally Championship is comprised of six events held nationwide in a season that extends from February to November. The series is presented by Subaru Canada, supported by Yokohama Tire Canada and features contingency programs from Subaru Canada and Mitsubishi Canada. The Canadian Association of Rallysport (CARS) is the official sanctioning body for rallying in Canada.

Full coverage of the championship will air on RDS and TSN. Check local listings.

RENEWAL on RIVALRIES

Alex Horsey hopes to graduate from Division Three category that he leads with 50 points. Ben Muchemi “Baba Chiru” is placed second in the third division with 37points followed by Raaji Bharij.

Bharij is the sole qualifier to the finals of the Pirelli Star Driver promotion whose winner in September in Rwanda will qualify for an all expenses paid trip to six Europe based WRC events.

The division system was introduced this season by the rallies Commission of KMSF.

The first division has the top 10 drivers, with the other chunk of 10 drivers in the division Two.

The rest of the KNRC drivers are categorized in Division three.

The battle for supremacy in Division two will also take shape in Nakuru for drivers and navigators. Quinton Mitchell hopes to stay ahead Izhar Mirza and Dinesh Sachania. Arshad Khan, Izhar Mirza’s co-driver, is placed atop the Division Two class with 40points.

He anticipates stiff challenge from Quentin Mitchell’s navigator Tim Challen. The vintage machines will also offer some hair-raising thrills.

Briton Iain Freestone will skip the Nakuru round thus putting his Classic Car Cup lead in jeopardy. Aslam Khan, the defending Champion is set to inch closer to the lead but can hardly surpass the margin set by Freestone in Nakuru.

If Aslam wins the Classic category in Nakuru he will stretch his points tally to 60, three behind Freestone.

The Rally is co-sponsored by Iway Africa, National Oil and Highlands water.

Meanwhile, Mogotiowill be a buzz with activity.

Fans will be treated to some exhilarating display of rallying artistry as Mogotio area MP who is also the Sports Minister Hellen Sambili flags off the rally outside the KCB Nakuru Branch on Saturday 7.30am.

Rally organizers Rift Valley and Motor Sports Club (RVMSC) have finalized preparations.

Clerk of the Course, Frank Tundo said drivers will not go through the controversial river that claimed Lee Rose's Mitsubishi Evolution.

“But the RVMSC have added two extra small stages at Bahati as the drivers finish their race at the Solai "Clubhouse".

“Two extra small stages have been added and now the drivers will not go through the controversial river-crossing.

“The route is more or less the same as last year's with some stages run in opposite direction.

“But it’s a medium route with some rocky patches and some smooth and fast stretches.” said Frank Tundo.

The Nakuru/Mogotio region is hot, dry sunny with the routes being twisty with few straight sections.

Frank who has been a Safari Rally veteran from 1972 through to the 80s said security has been beefed up in readiness for the championship.

The homeboys’ Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo and Lee Rose will maximize their home ground advantage to record impressive performance during the one-day championship.

Defending champion Baldev Chager with his Subaru N12 will battle it out with the homeboys Lee Rose and Carl Tundo.

Chager won last year’s edition of Nakuru with deceased navigator, Frank Yusuf. Legendary Ian Duncan, Peter Horsey and Horsey are determined for good performance.

Tundo will be the first one off the ramp followed by Azar Anwar, ian Duncan and Baldev Chager.

KNRC: 1. Carl Tundo (Dalbit Racing) 280, 2. Alastair Cavenagh (Dalbit Racing) 175, 3. Baldev Chager (Oilibya Racing)120, 4. Azar Anwar (Oilibya Racing115, 5. Asad Anwar (EVO9) 83, 6. Lee Rose (Unattached) 75, 7. Ian Duncan (National Oil) 55, 8. Izhar Mirza (Coast Pekee) 55, 9. Perter Horsey (Civicon Racing) 51, 10. Alex Horsey (Civicon Racing) 48.

EVO for DONATION

Windsor, Ontario - Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada has donated a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution to the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Engineering in Ontario.

The donation is in support of a unique partnership with Canada’s ACP (Andrew Comrie-Picard) Rally Racing. Over the next two years, engineering students will work with ACP Racing to design and develop a variety of improved components for Lancer Evolution rally cars.

The team will assist the program in testing and data acquisition, installing the components on their own Evolution rally car and putting them through their paces in a real race environment.

EVO X FQ-300 SST

In keeping with Mitsubishi's FQ tradition abroad, the automaker has developed a new model to fit in between the standard FQ-300 and the insanity known as the FQ-400. The Mitsubishi Evolution FQ-330 (almost) lives up to its namesake by delivering an additional 29 hp (up from the standard Evo's 300 hp) and an additional 22 lb-ft. of torque for a total of 322. The sprint to 60 mph drops accordingly, with 0.3 seconds shaved from the standard cars 4.7-second time. The minimal powertrain changes consist of a reworked intake, high-flow down-pipe, exhaust and catalytic converter and a re-mapped ECU to make use of the breathing mods. As it's name would suggest, the FQ-330 is equipped with Mitsubishi's new six-speed Twin-Clutch Sports Shift Transmission (TC-SST), and the whole packages only commands a £3,000 premium over the standard Evo, at £35,999. Jump for all the details.

Gallery: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

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PRESS RELEASE

MORE FQ- POWER ADDED TO TWIN-CLUTCH SPORTS SHIFT TRANSMISSION (SST)

* Lancer Evolution FQ-330 SST adds 36 bhp and 22 lb ft torque to the Sports Shift Transmission line-up

Since its introduction in 2008, the Lancer Evolution X has been an enormous success, gaining popular acclaim from customers and the media alike. Now, after extensive testing, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has added the eagerly awaited FQ-330 SST to its already impressive line-up.

The FQ-330 SST model utilises a breathing kit and ECU re-map to accomplish its enhanced power output, and has been systematically tested over the past 6 months to achieve successful results. This power upgrade noticeably improves not only the acceleration, but also significantly enhances the drive.

Power increased to 329 bhp
The power upgrade to 329 bhp is achieved by the addition of a high performance exhaust and downpipe, an intercooler piping kit, racing suction pipe, and upgraded CAT, which delivers an additional 36 bhp and 22 lb ft of torque mated to the advanced 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sports Shift Transmission.

Product line up and specification
The Lancer Evolution X FQ-330 SST includes the following standard equipment:

* Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC)
* 18" Enkei alloy wheels
* Brembo braking system, including 2-piece front brakes
* Eibach coil springs
* Bilstein shock absorbers
* HID xenon headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)
* Recaro front seats
* Bluetooth hands-free system
* Leather sports steering wheel with audio controls
* Front, side, curtain and knee airbags
* Privacy glass
* Front fog lamps
* ISO Fix
* Automatic headlamp and wiper sensors
* Remote central locking
* CAT1 approved alarm/immobiliser
* CAT5 approved tracker system + 1 year free subscription
* HDD satellite navigation system
* Rockford premium audio & Music Server – 6 premium speakers + subwoofer
* iPod/MP3 auxiliary input port

SST transmission
The GSR SST benefits from the fitment of Mitsubishi's 6 speed TC-SST (Twin Clutch Sports Shift Transmission) automated manual gearbox with steering column mounted magnesium paddle shifters.

This advanced transmission puts odd (1st, 3rd, 5th) and even (2nd, 4th and 6th) gears on separate input shafts, each with its own clutch, and switches between these clutches to produce an almost seamless and lightning-fast gear change in either fully automatic or manual transmission modes. A switch located at the base of the gear selector allows the driver to choose between Normal, Sport and Super Sport modes for optimum shifts in a wide variety of situations ranging from driving around town to taking tight lines on winding roads. Because the TC-SST uses clutches rather than a torque converter to transmit power it benefits from improved efficiency and better fuel economy.

Colours and price1
The FQ-330 SST is available in Cool Silver (M); Orient Red (M); Lightning Blue (P); and Phantom Black (P) colours with metallic and pearlescent paint included in the price of £35,999, £3,000 more than the FQ-300 STT variant.

Insurance groups and servicing
A testament to Mitsubishi's confidence in the FQ-330 SST's reliability comes in the form of its 3-year unlimited mileage warranty, and pan-European breakdown and recovery service.

Servicing too is highly affordable with the first 3-years / 30,000 mile servicing available for just £495 with the Mitsubishi Service Plan. The insurance group rating for the new model is 20A, in line with the 5-speed manual variant with the same power output.2

WISH from CAYMAN

Sportsmanship often takes a lot of practice to perfect.

Competition brings out the best and worst in people so emotions are explosive. Some of the best competitors in the sports world are able to play hard while respecting their opponents.

This reporter witnessed some fine sportsmanship first–hand at the opening round of the 2009 Caribbean Circuit Championship in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica.

Dover Raceway was host to much automotive excitement May 23–25. Caught up in the action were three countries in Barbados, Cayman and Jamaica.

The Cayman race team consisted of Gary ‘Rambo’ Barrett in a black Honda Civic hatchback, Andy Bodden in the Tony’s Toys Honda Civic Type–R, Junior Hydes in a grey Mitsubishi Evolution III and Kevin Johnson in a white Mitsubishi Evolution III.

A number of Caymanians made the trip to watch the action and lend support. Among them were Minroy Hydes, Gary Huggins and Richard Machado.

The trip was made possible by Tony Williams of Tony’s Toys and Ray Hydes of Hydes and Sons.

It would be easy for the Jamaican drivers to focus on the race and brush off the presence of the Cayman team. However that was not the case as most were welcoming.

Among them were Gary Gregg and Natasha Chang. Gregg, known for his rally racing exploits in a Ford Focus, had his race bay stationed next to the Cayman crew.

He drove a blue Honda Civic during the competition while his son Kevin drove a black Civic.

Chang meanwhile stopped by the Cayman race bay in her yellow Mitsubishi Evolution V.

Both expressed knowing some of the Cayman racers and having a Cayman connection of sorts. Gregg had been to Cayman in years past to compete in Cayman autocross events at Lakeview Raceway (where Jay Bodden’s marl pit now sits).

Chang meanwhile says she has many good friends who stay in Cayman.

The pair also had nothing but positive comments for Cayman. Gregg hoped Cayman did as well if not better in the next round of the competition while Chang stated Cayman was a great nation with the right attitude to racing.

Another duo who wished Cayman well was couple Anna–Kay ‘Smiling Kay’ Dunkley and Dion ‘Babybomb’ Gardener.

The pair raced at Dover in two PETCOM–sponsored Mitsubishi Mirages. Both drivers are renown in Jamaican race circles for their prowess in dexterity and sprint races (nabbing a top three finish in three of the last five events this year).

Admittedly both were not familiar with racing in Cayman. They were surprised with how many racers came from Cayman and how well they did.

On the other hand the pair did know a few people from Cayman and felt Caymanians never were too tired to flash a smile.

A few Jamaican drivers were not only knowledgeable about Cayman’s racers but in tune with the happenings in Cayman.

The biggest example of that fact was David Summerbell Jr. Summerbell, arguably Jamaica’s best driver, dominated the competition throughout with his AMS Mitsubishi Evolution VIII.

Much of his competition saw the Evo’s bumper two car lengths ahead as Summerbell’s knowledge of the track and control of the car shined through.

Yet Summerbell was quite aware of Cayman’s presence on and off the track as he commented on the guys there at Dover.

“I know all the guys, especially Tony, Rambo and Andy,” Summerbell said. “In fact Rambo has been coming to Dover for many years. He has proven he is a good driver.”

Summerbell is no stranger to Cayman either ashe came years ago to race.

“I’ve been to Cayman in the past to race at the old Lakeview Raceway. Cayman was a great place to me and the racers were good to me.

“I really liked racing there and the people were very friendly and welcoming to me. The Jamaican people have to be the same way to the Cayman guys.”

The Jamaican race legend, whose father was also a notable figure on the motorsports scene, is well–aware of the current state of Cayman motorsports.

He expressed his feelings on the closing of Cayman’s lone race track, Breakers Speedway, by owner Robert Campbell.

“I was saddened to hear Campbell closed the track. The guys did well here in Jamaica and it would be good if they could race there again.

“I would love to see the new Cayman government and members of the private sector come together to help re–open the track. Caymanians are great people and great racers and they deserve it.”

2009 EVO X FQ-400 for UK

IF YOU WERE FEELING a bit shirty at the news that the red hot Mitsubishi Evolution X FQ-330 and FQ-360 won’t be coming to Australia, you’ll be seeing red over the even more ballistic Mitsubishi Evolution X FQ-400, announced this week for launch in the UK.

While the FQ-330 offers 242kW and 437Nm of torque, with an appropriately quick 4.4 second sprint to 100km/h, the FQ-400 weighs in at an even 300kW and 524Nm of torque.

Courtesy of those ridiculous figures, the FQ-400 delivers a blisteringly quick 3.8 second run to the ton. Top speed? An electronically-limited 250km/h.

That extra power is found thanks to some fiddling beneath the bonnet, with high-flow fuel injectors, a new turbo with low-friction bearings, strengthened thrust bearing and a high temperature turbine for increased response and reduced turbo lag.

An upgraded intercooler feeds the turbo, and a new exhaust system with 3-inch piping evacuates gasses more efficiently, while the ECU receives extensive remapping as well, courtesy of over 500 development hours.

With a wider track and lowered suspension, the FQ-400 sits on light-weight 18-inch alloy rims shod with Toyo Proxes R1R tyres, resulting, Mitsubishi says, in greater cornering response and more incisive steering.

With great power comes great braking, and the FQ-400 is no exception, utilising aerospace-grade aluminium alloys and floating sealed discs with high performance pads.

The heavily vented bonnet is joined by composite side skirts, a re-styled rear bumper with a carbon-fibre diffuser, a rear wing incorporating a gurney strip and the obligatory roof-mounted vortex generator, all managing airflow around the slippery FQ-400.

Inside, the occupants are held in place with Recaro bucket sports seats, while a FQ-400 liveried handbrake handle and carbon-fibre gear knob feature in the centre.

The depressing news, as mentioned, is that Mitsubishi Australia has no plans to bring the UK’s faster Evo range to Australia.

Still, with the likes of factory-supported outfits like Team Mitsubishi Ralliart offering very tasty upgrades, there’s plenty of fun to be had with the Aus-delivered models.

MORE POWER and SPEED on EVO FQ-330

It's good to see the enthusiast-attuned execs over at Mitsubishi UK have an impact on the island's Evolution X lineup. Their latest creation to the souped-up, UK-only FQ portfolio is called the FQ-330, and, like the name suggests, it makes an improved 329 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque thanks to a few minor tweaks under its hood.

That power increase equates to a 38-hp and 22 lb-ft boost over our current Long Term U.S.-spec Mitsubishi Evo X MR with the brand's Twin Clutch Sports Shift Transmission (TC-SST) on board. Our Evo X MR laid down a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.2 sec, which of course is a tad bit slower than the FQ-330 touting a claimed 4.4-sec. run.

To hit that performance mark, Three Diamond engineers replaced the intake system, intercooler piping, exhaust and downpipe to free the otherwise restrictive inhalation and exhalation powertrain duties. A remapped ECU also instructs a proper parts orchestration in collaboration with the TC-SST.

All other UK market standard equipment like 18-in. Enkei wheels, privacy glass and CAT1 and CAT5 theft deterrent systems remain on the spec sheet. World market features such as Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs, Brembo brakes, Bluetooth connectivity, Recaro seats and the airbag assortment remain as well.

And to think, this is all covered under a three-year, unlimited mileage factory-backed warranty, as well as an available three-year/30,000 mile service program. It doesn't come cheap though, as this Evo starts at $56,771.

While the FQ-330 is impressive in its own right, it's a more civilized version of the FQ's older sibling, the FQ-400, which employs a 405-hp MIVEC motor.

DOVER DRIVER's TRACK

In racing, like other sports, looks are deceiving.

The person who looks the most promising often times is not the best. On the other hand persons who look like also–rans can emerge as contenders.

Stuart Maloney was a force in his Evolution. Photo: Matthew Yates

Where racing differs is that many times wins and losses come down to how well a driver knows the course and how well he/she can get the car to run.

This reporter saw that first–hand for the first round of the 2009 Caribbean Circuit Championship the weekend of May 23. On my first–ever trip to the country I travelled to St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica to take in two days of automotive excitement at Dover Raceway.

The following is a look at my time at the track on race day Monday May 25:

It was no surprise the day was an early one. Sunday’s time trials presented the Cayman race team with a lot of questions that needed to be answered early, starting from 8am.

It was a good thing Tony Williams, Ray Hydes and the others started out from Runaway Bay early as the 15 minute drive from the villas took a half an hour due to the heavy amount of traffic.

It was understood that there would be a lot of people as it was Labour Day and a Jamaican national holiday. But it was incredible to see so many so early.

The racers were equally on the ball as the pit area was a hub of activity. The Cayman area would be no different as we met up with a group of some eight mechanics that had stayed at the track late into the night to work on the cars.

In spite of their efforts the news was not good. Junior Hydes’ Mitsubishi Evolution III would be unable to compete. Attempts to install the spare head gasket Junior had brought with him on the trip proved unsuccessful.

The head gasket, which was a factory replacement part, failed to fit the aftermarket rods Junior had in the first gasket (which blew up on Sunday).

Junior was the second Cayman driver forced to the sidelines. Kevin Johnson crashed his white Mitsubishi Evolution III into a wall near the finish line during time trials.

Johnson was fine (due in large part to the car’s roll cage) but the front and rear bumpers of the car were destroyed. It needed too many repairs to be ready for race day.

In under 24 hours the Cayman race team went from four racers down to two. Only Andy Bodden in the Tony’s Toys Honda Civic Type–R and Gary ‘Rambo’ Barrett in a black Honda Civic hatchback remained to restore Cayman’s honour on the day.

Andy Bodden would get his first crack of the action for Cayman. With the Civic running and sounding well the morale and expectations of the crew were high.

His first run was a solid one. Bodden started from the back of the pack of 28 racers but found room to manoeuvre, finishing in the top 20.

Bodden got consistently better on the day. In spite of continuously starting at the back, Bodden would creep his way up into the top 15, the top 10 and even finished as high as fifth by day’s end.

With the car in order, Bodden was free to focus on mastering the tight hair–pins and S curves Dover is known for. Bodden maintained his line well and maximized his power by fettering the boost.

Bear in mind Bodden faced a potent field of competitors. The leader of the pack throughout the day would prove to be Neil ‘Hollywood’ Gore. One of many family members firmly entrenched in the Jamaican race scene, Gore lead the way with his yellow and blue Evolution X for team Mo Bay racing out of Montego Bay.

Barrett was next up for Cayman. The unassuming veteran racer had a relatively quiet day on Sunday. His car ran flawlessly, saw little tinkering under the hood and generally held its own.

On Monday Barrett made plenty of noise with his driving form. Aided by a favourable starting spot in the top 10, Barrett kept pace well. In his first run he showed the consistent form that would make him a force throughout the day.

Rambo excelled in large part due to his tenacity in the corners. Living up to his unique nickname, Barrett sliced through the bends and consistently hit his apex. As a result he was quick to get going on the straightaways.

Though he ended up sixth in his first run, Barrett would have many high finishes. In fact he would go on to nab a fourth and second place spot before clawing out a hard–fought first place finish.

Among Barrett’s toughest competitors were Sebastian Rae in a yellow and blue Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback and Alan Chen in a black Toyota Levin. Rae took it to Barrett early on in the day, beating him to spots in the corners. Chen meanwhile would be a tough cookie with what sounded like a heavy amount of boost as he gained much ground on the straightaways.

As a result of Cayman’s fine form, the crew area got extra attention from the crowd. Everyone wanted to see what was under the hood, even a group of models for Castrol (who also happen to be one of the sponsors of the Tony’s Toys Civic).

Meanwhile a bevy of racing continued on the track. From motorbike to street car classes Dover constantly saw machines burning rubber on the track.

The non–stop action kept the 25,000 people who came to the track buzzing all day whether they were watching from on top of a building or at the top of hill adjacent to the track.

Arguably the highlight of the day was seeing the ‘big boys’ go all out. With the likes of Mark Maloney in the Red Bull Mazda RX–3 and Bull Thompson in the May Pen Ice RX–7 on the loose there was no shortage of power.

When it was all said and done David Summerbell would emerge victorious in the AMS Evolution VIII. Summerbell was flawless on the day. His knowledge of the track and his car’s ridiculous power came to the fore and he was never out of the lead.

Granted he did get solid competition from Bajan Stuart Maloney. Maloney stuck with Summerbell in every race and his Automotive Art Evolution VI made things interesting in the last race of the day. However Summerbell prevailed.

EVO X FQ-400 UNVEILED at 403HP

They've been called budget supercars for years now, and the latest crop of factory hot-rods are seriously infringing on that performance territory. Take Mitsubishi's new FQ-400 special for the UK, unveiled today: 3.8 seconds 0-62mph puts it on par with the Corvette ZR-1, Nissan GT-R, Lamborghini Gallardo, and a handful of other cars costing up to ten times as much as the hotted-up Evolution X.

And that's the magic of the 2009 Mitsubishi Evolution X and other cars of its ilk. For just a few thousand dollars - or pounds sterling, as the case may be - more than a family grocery-getter, you can have four-door utility with supercar performance. Just last week the FQ-330 SST variant was released as well, demonstrating the principle in slightly less extravagant form.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-400 is the fastest and most extreme version of Mitsubishi’s motorsport-derived machine. With 403hp and 387lb-ft of torque on offer from its advanced, lightweight aluminum 2.0L turbocharged MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control) gasoline engine the FQ-400 is able to reach 62mph (100km/h) from standstill in an estimated 3.8 seconds before reaching its electronically limited 155mph top speed.

The brutally quick acceleration is aided by the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) four-wheel-drive system which appropriates power to the wheels that can best use it. Increasing the FQ-400’s cornering ability even further over its FQ relatives is a wider track and lowered suspension featuring Eibach springs and Bilstein Shock Absorbers. Lightweight 18in, nine spoke alloy wheels fitted with Toyo Proxes R1R tires enhance the FQ-400’s grip. The enhanced agility and performance is backed by a revised braking system which uses aerospace grade aluminum alloys and floating sealed discs grabbed by high performance pads.

Getting all that power out of the relatively tiny 2.0L powerplant required major revisions to the base unit. Motorsport specification high-flow fuel injectors are fitted to the aluminum cylinder head and a new hybrid turbocharger is also fitted. The higher specification turbocharger features low-friction bearings, a high temperature turbine and strengthened thrust bearing to increase response and reduce turbo lag. Feeding the turbocharger cooled air, improving its performance and efficiency, is an enhanced intercooler, while the exhaust’s gases flow from the engine via a 3in diameter high flow stainless steel piping and catalytic converter before exiting through a centrally positioned exhaust.

In addition to being a no-BS rally car for the street, the Mitsubishi Evolution X FQ-400 is also a fully loaded daily driver, complete with Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, 30GB multimedia hard drive, DVD sat-nav, automatic lights and wipers, and a host of other tech and comfort features.

Pricing reflects the FQ-400's status as Mitsubishi's top-of-the-line Evo, but it's still leagues below the performance competition, starting at £49,999 ($78,120). Sales start in June throughout the UK.

Gallery: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-400

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