News May 2006

Finland.s Jussi Valimaki scored a sensational fifth position at today.s finish of Rally Italia, despite never having driven the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 competitively before the start of the Sardinian event. Valimaki.s result was even better, given that it was his first World Rally Car outing in the FIA World Rally Championship for more than 18 months.
The 31-year-old, co-driven by Jarkko Kalliolepo, spent last season winning the FIA Asia-Pacific Championship in a Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, but elected to step up to a World Rally Car for this year.s Rally Italia. He will also compete in the same car in next week.s Acropolis Rally in Greece.

Read the full coverage here.

You can find pictures from the rally on here

This weekend.s Pirelli International Rally saw the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge enter a new era, the event heralding the start of the series. first season with the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship.

First to take honours was former British Champion Gwyndaf Evans, partnered by Huw Lewis, he led the Evo Challenge field right from the start, but with a clutch change on the second day it was no easy task for the experienced Welshmen.

Read the full coverage here.

San Marino driver Mirco Baldacci guided his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX through a trouble-free final leg of Rally Argentina to clinch a podium finish on the South American round of the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship. Today.s dry but cloudy and cool third leg included four stages, two to the west of Cordoba . the world-famous Mina Clavero and El Condor . and two in Cordoba stadium, which was also the venue for the rally finish.

Read the full coverage here.

You can find pictures from the rally on here