Mitsubishi Lancer WRC
Encyclopedia
The Mitsubishi Lancer WRC is a World Rally Car
built by Ralliart
, Mitsubishi Motors
' motorsport
division, to compete in the World Rally Championship
. The previous Lancer Evolution
series were homologated for the Group A
class, and their competitiveness against World Rally Cars from other manufacturers was therefore limited.
-type sequential transmission
via a triple-plate carbon
clutch
and distributes power to all four wheels via front-, centre- and rear- active differentials. The car's suspension
is independent
, with MacPherson strut
s and coil spring
s at each corner. The brake
s are vented discs clamped by 6-piston calipers at the front, and 4-piston calipers at the rear.
and a new all-wheel drive system co-developed by Ricardo Consulting Engineers and Mitsubishi Motors Motorsports (MMSP). The bodywork was subjected to extensive aerodynamic testing at the Lola Cars wind tunnel
. The front brakes were upgraded to 8-piston calipers clamping 370 mm (15 in) discs.
The lead Lancer WRC04 in the 2004 World Rally Championship
was driven by ex-Peugeot
driver Gilles Panizzi
, with his brother Hervé as co-driver.
, but the car's width was increased by 30 mm (1.2 in) due to a change in the WRC
regulations. Aerodynamic alterations to the bodywork
were introduced to improve stability, while suspension
links and driveshaft
s were lengthened. Steering-mounted gearshift paddles were also introduced, and longer ratios
were adopted for first, third and fourth gears.
World Rally Car
World Rally Car is a term used to describe racing automobiles built to the specification set by the FIA, the international motorsports governing body, and used to compete in the outright class of the World Rally Championship...
built by Ralliart
Ralliart
Ralliart was the high-performance and motorsports division of Mitsubishi Motors. It was responsible for development and preparation of the company's rally racing and off-road racing vehicles, as well as the development of high-performance models and parts available to the public...
, Mitsubishi Motors
Mitsubishi Motors
is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
' motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
division, to compete in the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
. The previous Lancer Evolution
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, colloquially known as the Lancer Evo or Evo, is a high-performance sedan manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors. There have been ten official versions to date, and the designation of each model is most commonly a roman numeral...
series were homologated for the Group A
Group A
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight, allowed...
class, and their competitiveness against World Rally Cars from other manufacturers was therefore limited.
WRC
The Lancer Evolution WRC is powered by the same 1996 cc 4G63 engine that has been used in its sports and rally cars since the 1980s, in this iteration producing 300 PS at 5500 rpm and 540 newton metre at 3500 rpm.WRC2
The Lancer Evolution WRC2 is also powered by the 4G63, also producing 300 PS at 5500 rpm and 540 newton metre at 3500 rpm. It is mated to a 6-speed INVECSINVECS
INVECS is the brand name used by Mitsubishi Motors for its electronic automatic transmission technology.-INVECS:...
-type sequential transmission
Semi-automatic transmission
A semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
via a triple-plate carbon
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
and distributes power to all four wheels via front-, centre- and rear- active differentials. The car's suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
is independent
Independent suspension
Independent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects...
, with MacPherson strut
MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...
s and coil spring
Coil spring
A Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces...
s at each corner. The brake
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
s are vented discs clamped by 6-piston calipers at the front, and 4-piston calipers at the rear.
WRC04
The Lancer WRC04 continued with the 4G63 engine, mounted to a 5-speed semi-automatic transmissionSemi-automatic transmission
A semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
and a new all-wheel drive system co-developed by Ricardo Consulting Engineers and Mitsubishi Motors Motorsports (MMSP). The bodywork was subjected to extensive aerodynamic testing at the Lola Cars wind tunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
. The front brakes were upgraded to 8-piston calipers clamping 370 mm (15 in) discs.
The lead Lancer WRC04 in the 2004 World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
was driven by ex-Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
driver Gilles Panizzi
Gilles Panizzi
Gilles Panizzi is a French rally driver on the World Rally Championship circuit.Gilles was born in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes...
, with his brother Hervé as co-driver.
WRC05
The Lancer WRC05 saw no significant changes to the powertrainPowertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
, but the car's width was increased by 30 mm (1.2 in) due to a change in the WRC
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
regulations. Aerodynamic alterations to the bodywork
Coachwork
Coachwork is the body of a horse-drawn coach or carriage, a motor vehicle , a railroad car or railway carriage. Usually reserved for bodies built on a separate chassis, rather than being of unitary or monocoque construction...
were introduced to improve stability, while suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
links and driveshaft
Driveshaft
A drive shaft, driveshaft, driving shaft, propeller shaft, or Cardan shaft is a mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, usually used to connect other components of a drive train that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement...
s were lengthened. Steering-mounted gearshift paddles were also introduced, and longer ratios
Gear ratio
The gear ratio of a gear train is the ratio of the angular velocity of the input gear to the angular velocity of the output gear, also known as the speed ratio of the gear train. The gear ratio can be computed directly from the numbers of teeth of the various gears that engage to form the gear...
were adopted for first, third and fourth gears.