LA 2007: Mitsubishi to tackle touring car with WORKS-prepared Lancer race car
Mitsubishi will no longer be absent from the starting grid of the SCCA Speed World Challenge with the new WORKS-prepared SWC Lancer race car. The tuning company that specializes in tweaking EVOs, in a partnership with Mitsubishi North America, will be hitting the racetracks next year against Mazda, BMW, Audi, and more with two-time U.S. Touring Car champion David Brown behind the wheel. The car received new front and rear coilovers, two-piece rotors with Brembo calipers, a racing clutch and flywheel, and a fully built Mitsubishi inline-4 among other racing necessities. Pending its final homologation, it will race the full 2008 season in the Touring Car class. Follow the jump for the full details in the press release.
[Source: WORKS]
PRESS RELEASE:
Los Angeles, California - November 15, 2007 - Today the curtains were pulled on the new WORKS-built SPEED World Challenge (SWC) Lancer at the Los Angeles Auto Show. We see this as a great opportunity to get involved in professional racing with a manufacturer whose vehicles inspired WORKS to start in the first place. With significant research and development time already invested into the project, the WORKS SWC Lancer will continue to receive enhancements through the off-season with the goal of running a full racing schedule for the 2008 calendar year. Two-time (2005 and 2006) United States Touring Car champion David Brown will be spearheading the driving effort for 2008.
The WORKS SWC Lancer already boasts an impressive build list including front and rear WORKS/Öhlins coilovers, WORKS two-piece rotors featuring Brembo aluminum calipers, a WORKS racing clutch with 'Spin' flywheel, and a fully built and balanced Mitsubishi four cylinder engine. Inside the car there is a WORKS 'Throw' short shifter with 'Grab' shift knob, WORKS carbon fiber panels, a single Recaro Pro Racer seat, Tilton pedal assembly and a custom roll cage installed by Impact Engineering. Pending final homologation, the SWC Lancer will receive a few more racing and performance parts from WORKS and their partners before heading to tracks across the US and Canada.
Coming right on the heels of our grand opening at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA this announcement marks another major step for WORKS as we continue to expand in the motorsports world. WORKS is proud to be part of such a great partnership with Mitsubishi Motors North America and we look forward to running a competitive team for the 2008 season and remaining committed to our mantra: Power, Precision, Passion.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Johnnie 5:15PM (11/16/2007)
Is it me or does that car look EXACTLY like a Volvo S40?
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rv2 5:43PM (11/16/2007)
Agreed - that's what I've thought since the first time I saw the new Lancer. Thought this was a Volvo article when I first saw the pic. From the side they're almost identical. Still, looks pretty nice...
jonay 5:17PM (11/16/2007)
it's you. I can't wait to see what that car can do.
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dougjp 5:31PM (11/16/2007)
Great! Another manufacturer in this excellent entertaining series. Caddy is gone as a manufacturing effort on the GT series next year, so its great to see this addition in Touring.
Nicko 5:33PM (11/16/2007)
Are they prohibited from running AWD Evo's? Looks like a normal Lancer.
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Drew Phillips 5:45PM (11/16/2007)
I'm not quite sure why they aren't using the EVO. The guidelines posted on the World Challenge's web site says:
"Touring Car (TC): Cars up to 2.8-liters that are naturally aspirated are permitted. Forced induction permitted as if it came that way from the factory. The cars can be front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive. The cars must be able to seat four adults, and convertibles are not allowed. Class horsepower range is 225-275 bhp."
Perhaps it needed to be in the horsepower range.
junon 5:54PM (11/16/2007)
is it possible it could be the rumored ralliart lancer in such a case?
oppositelock 5:56PM (11/16/2007)
It might have something to do with all of the electronics on the evo being prohibited.
I'm pretty sure abs is not allowed, so maybe the electronic diffs aren't either. And converting all of this back to mechanical systems would be just about impossible with any reasonable budget. Plus fwd isn't really a disadvantage in this category.
Do A4's use a mechanical awd system?
naggs 7:06PM (11/16/2007)
its just a fwd lancer
the awd and turbo would make it much faster than a fwd mazda 6 or acura tsx
Merritt Johnson 7:16PM (11/16/2007)
The Evo, like the Subaru WRX STi, is categorized in the GT class.
Kido1986 3:47PM (11/17/2007)
Naggs, I believe the touring Mazda6 has the Speed 6's AWD system.
blinkra182 5:57PM (11/16/2007)
Amesome. the new Lancer should be fairly successful with that nice stiff chassis.
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Ruby007 11:08PM (11/16/2007)
Johnnie - you are absolutely correct this car couldn't be any more S40 Volvo'ish it seems that every asian car manufacture just cant be original and create their own design cues like every one else, but than i guess copying is much easier...
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Maestro1 7:11PM (11/16/2007)
Wait a minute...
Is this a FWD Lancer or does it use the AWD drivetrain from the Japanese Galant Fortis?
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Mark 8:20PM (11/16/2007)
Chances are it isn't anything special or they would face the same problem as Cadillac. They have to be restricted because they make too much power. Sucks when they have to drive up long hills. (i.e. Laguna Seca)
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John Cressy 8:55PM (11/16/2007)
It's funny that it looks like a Volvo. The old S40 was built at the european Mitsubishi plant and had Mitsubishi underpinnings. The new S40 shares with the european Ford Focus. I thought all car guys knew that.
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priusguy 12:12AM (11/17/2007)
It really does look like a S40. Was Mitsubishi taking a page from Chinese automakers?
http://pricehub.blogspot.com
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reader 10:24AM (1/19/2008)
What I find ironic is someone mentioning that "every asian car manufacture just cant be original and create their own design cues like every one else, but than i guess copying is much easier..." If I'm not mistaken American cars have been doing that for decades.. even many of the Euro cars have too. Despite it being the same chassis and such some of the old muscle cars did that.. a good example is the 1970s Challenger and Cuda. Same car just different lights and grilles.. Granted it was Dodge/Plymouth agt the time but they didn't make the cars into two different ones.. They saved money using the same bodywork and such, just like GM did with the camero and firebird/trans am. So it's hardly fair to criticize asian automakers for what almost all car comanies do, and still do today. Besides, the masses just want the same old crap, atleast the asian automakers are trying to amke something new. I don't see volvo changing it's style to be fresh faced.. and the US is just now starting to give it a try.. If you're that uppity with the "copying" thing... ride a bicycle and get the hell out of the showroom.
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