WORKS Rally America Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Rallycar

It’s strange being inside one of the first tuned Lancer Ralliarts in the US. The noise is, to put it simply, unfamiliar. Mitsubishi’s WRX killer is available only with a dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission and right now it’s doing all the shifting. Behind the wheel is WORKS’ Joey Hille and sitting in the co-driver seat is yours truly. We’re not blazing hot laps on track, far from it. We’re digging up the back hills at Infineon Raceway looking for photo locations and yet the car still seems a little different.

The Ralliart has all the typical racecar sounds - blaring exhaust, gravel spraying into open wheel wells, dangling interior items clinking against roll cage metal and the whine of an unmuffled drivetrain. But that same drivetrain is shifting softly at points that any human driver would otherwise leave in gear. The dual clutch transmission programming truly does work like an automatic. The paddle-shifted gearbox makes for zero miss-shifts and an incredibly easy cruise but will it survive through rough rally competition?

WORKS obtained this Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart shortly before the BFGoodrich KDW Challenge (see our story HERE). Their intent was clear from the beginning – to build a rallycar for the Rally America series. WORKS shop foreman Lars Wolfe, who has experience in both road racing and rally racing in such cars as the Volkswagen Jetta and Lancer Evolution, would be the driver for this turbocharged machine.

The first task to tackle was to lighten and strip the car. The interior, sound deadening, airbags and seats were pulled from the Mitsubishi. Anything inside that wasn’t of any use for rallying was removed and tossed from the car. Wolfe himself then fabricated and welded in a complete WORKS Motorsports roll cage to meet rally specifications. The Sparco Evo racing seats also saw some fabrication time with custom mounts holding them in place. The passenger/co-driver seat has been pushed back a full 9-inches and put as low to the ground as possible to aid with the center of gravity as well as the polar moment of inertia.

The requisite Terratrip intercom system and rally navigation computer were installed for rally racing, as were the Willans six-point harnesses, hydraulic handbrake (to lock the rear end for slides), custom co-driver footplate, first aid kit (you never know) and Tilton brake bias knob. WORKS’ own Grab shift knob and Autometer boost, oil, water temperature and oil pressure gauges finish off the interior treatment.

Pioneering development of the Lancer Ralliart platform, the WORKS team discovered many of the car’s particular details through testing and inspection. The engine, which is very lightly modified, is so far pushing only about 260hp and 308 lb/ft of torque. A straight-through open exhaust, WORKS P2 Brain Flash ECU, 34mm air inlet restrictor (required by Rally America) and Samco silicone hoses are about the extent of the power modifications. Although there are no resonators or mufflers on board this Lancer Ralliart, the turbocharger itself provides a bit of sound suppression. This Mitsu has a loud racecar scream but it’s not quite as ear splitting as an uncorked ALMS Corvette on ‘roids.

The dual-clutch transmission has so far proven up to the task of handling the power, from both a strength and drivability perspective. But heat has always proven to be the transmission’s Achilles’ heel. The WORKS team pushed the Lancer Ralliart during hot laps at the KDW Challenge event but are waiting patiently for Rally America competition to begin real durability testing in the field. The transmission and its components so far remain completely stock.

Nearly stock, the engine has been modified with a straight pipe custom exhaust, Samco hoses, WORKS P2 Brain Flash ECU and air restrictor. 308 lb/ft of torque is now available

This Lancer Ralliart is currently equipped with a Hot Bits rally suspension system, which utilizes remote reservoir canisters and full adjustability. Because this car will see gravel, snow, ice and gravity-defying jumps, WORKS fit the complete underside with 6061 aluminum protective paneling. Rally racing can be quite hard on cars and the last thing the crew at WORKS needs is a bent driveshaft or exhaust ruining a rally.

The braking system on the WORKS Lancer Ralliart so far remains stock with the addition of WORKS TKS brake lines and Hawk RS12 brake pads. The Mitsubishi is pictured here with 17-inch AME wheels and BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW tires. Upon entry into the Rally America series, the car will wear 15x6.5-inch OZ rally wheels and 185/70-15 BFGoodrich GZE rally tires.

Its suspension, engine and fender flares may differ from the Lancer Evolution but the Lancer Ralliart is the Evo’s spiritual little brother. Both are turbocharged, all-wheel drive rockets that were designed by Mitsubishi for rally use. The team at WORKS have spent what precious little time they’ve had with their Ralliart preparing it for Rally America competition. It’s got the power, suspension and safety equipment to go fast but, like any pioneering projects, there are always improvements and changes to be made. The Lancer Ralliart’s all-wheel drive system is based on the proven Lancer Evo 9 but the dual-clutch system is a true wild card. But the guys at WORKS, heavily experienced in the Mitsubishi world, are already on the job with this rallycar.  The Lancer Ralliart and rally racing communities are surely already waiting.

Sources

Works
(415) 226-2500
www.worksevo.com
www.worksmotorsports.com

BFGoodrich Tires
www.bfgoodrichtires.com

Hot Bits
(586) 980-2543
www.hotbits.ca

A fully adjustable Hot Bits rally suspension has been fitted, complete with remote reservoirs

The interior is now all business for rally racing - Sparco bucket seats, Willans harnesses, Terratrip computer and fully stripped

The full WORKS Motorsports roll cage meets Rally America specs

The Terratrip navigation computer is used by the co-driver during rally stages

17-inch AME wheels and BFG KDW tires will eventually be replaced by BFGoodrich rally racing tires and 15-inch OZ rally wheels