WRC (World Rally Championship) and Evo buffs will have the chance to get a preview of next year’s Lancer Evolution X Group N rally car at the Rally Japan that kicks off on Friday 26th October 2007 as Mitsubishi announced that their 2008 Evo X (click here) is to be used as the course car for the 14th round of the WRC. The Course cars, often referred to as the “Double Zero” and “Zero” cars, travel through the course before the competing vehicles, 30-minutes for the Double Zero car and 15-minutes for the Zero car, to check track conditions making sure that everything is ready.
The 2008 Lancer Evo X will run on Rally Japan in Group N specification meaning that it is equipped with all the usual “rally-goodies” like the integrated of the roll cage into the body of the car, sump-guard, floor guard with fuel tank protection and mud flaps. In the cockpit additional safety features have been added including five-point safety harnesses for the crew with bucket seats and a competition steering wheel
According to Mitsubishi, purpose-built components have been used for the running gear and brakes with drive-train components specially developed by Ralliart featuring a constant-mesh close-ratio gearbox. Since the Lancer Evolution Xs are the official Course cars on Rally Japan, they will also have revolving roof lights as well as a siren and loudspeaker to warn spectators on the stages that the competitors will be arriving shortly.
As for the actual Lancer Evolution X WRC model, the Group N homologation from the Federation International de L'Automobile (FIA) is epxteced to be obtained next summer with the new rally challenger taking part in international rallies during the second half of 2008 or 2009.
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