Mitsubishi's Slow Boat from Japan
Mitsubishi sources confirmed that FIA homologation of their new rally car, the Group N Lancer Evo X, is expected to be issued by the FIA on 1st July, but warn that production schedules means deliveries of cars for competition use in Europe will not arrive before early autumn. This new car is expected to be some 15% more expensive than the IX and some 40kg heavier, but it has a much more rigid body, with the platform coming from that use on the Outlander model. The engine itself is some 18kg lighter than that in the Evo IX, is more compact. It is mounted so as to improve the position of the centre of gravity of the car and features easier tuning for the exhaust camshaft. This car was first seen in action in public at the 2007 Rally Japan, where it was driven by test driver Hideaki Miyoshi as an organisers' zero car.

Fiat Back in the World Championship?
Abarth's launch of their new premises opened up the spectre of the Italian manufacturer Fiat being again represented on the world title championship scene after a gap of over 15 years. Claudio Berro, the Fiat Group competition director, confirmed that the IRC programme is the flagship activity for rally competition in 2008, but added that they are watching ongoing developments at the FIA with considerable interest. "We are involved in discussions with the FIA and other manufacturers and it is clear the Super 2000 will be the basis for the future WRC. The one thing we are discussing for the future is how we can get more torque from the engine, so long as this does not become too expensive. Under the future WRC rules, I believe Super 2000 and Group N will bring more teams to the WRC, not only factory teams but also private teams. And when the number of world championship rallies comes down to 12 each year, it will be possible for more teams to compete at high level. We are working for the chance for Fiat Abarth to be there. If the new rules are effective [as planned] in WRC in 2010 and 2011, this will be the right time for us. We do not have any decisions but it is clear this is the way". The Grande Punto S2000 is not alone in Abarth's plans. Other models in the Fiat range are being developed for competition. Berro added: "The current development work on the 500 Abarth car is only for circuits but for me it is clear that circuit racing is not the only opportunity for this car. I believe under FIA rules that it also is possible to make the 500 Abarth a very strong car in rallies. The main competition project with the Punto is the diesel model, which we have already homologated with the FIA as a Class R3 car. We think the cost of this car will be half the cost of the top level cars in R3 [cars such as the Honda and Renault] while still offering performance which is very interesting for younger drivers". Berro is sceptical about Super 1600, however. "Super 1600 is too expensive these days, it makes no sense. I think R3 has a better future”.

Italian Rally Championship
The second round of the Italian Rally Championship will take place this weekend in the little state of San Marino. The start of the season was marred by a tragic accident. The Ciocco Rally was halted in the fifth stage after a lady spectator died having slipped down an embarkment into the path of competing car following her dog. The four official teams participating on the event (Abarth, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Subaru) all supported the decision to stop the event. Involved in the incident was 44 year old former Lancia and Mitsubishi world championship driver Andrea Aghini, who was at the wheel of the Subaru Impreza, and this was his second sadness in the sport. Nearly five years ago his codriver Loris Roggia died as they were driving in a special stage at the Salento Rally in their Peugeot 206 WRC. This latest news came only a few weeks after Italian motorsport mourned the death from natural causes of Adolfo Rava, the long time organiser of Sanremo Rally. Leading the event when it was stopped was Piero Longhi, Aghini's teammate, who was 0.3 second in front of Luca Rossetti's Peugeot while Abarth driver Renato Travaglia was third ahead of Cantamessa's Mitsubishi. After safely running the event for 30 years, this was the first such incident on this rally. Because less then 30 % of the special stage kms were used, drivers were awarded half of the total points.
The 2008 San Marino Rally will be held on gravel and runs 15 special stages with a total of 191,44 kms. The ceremonial start will take place on Thursday with the two legs running on Friday and Saturday. The winner from Ciocco has won the San Marino event in the last three years, only Longhi and Andrea Navarra scoring four wins in total in this gravel rally. The organizer has recorded 84 entries and competition between group N cars and Super 2000 will be the main attraction again. Travaglia, Navarra and Umberto Scandola will drive the Grande Punto S2000, Luca Rosetti will be the main Peugeot contender, Aghini and Longhi will represent Subaru Italia and Luca Cantamessa, Paulo Andreucci and Giuseppe Grossi driving Mitsubishi. Most interesting is the entry of Pasi Hagstrom with the single Subaru Impreza N14 at the start. The car is owned by the Italian driver Tempesta who is competing in the Romanian Rally Championship. The Tommi Makinen Racing test pilot continues to evaluate the new model performances on gravel. Autorally will publish soon an interview with the Finnish driver.

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