The mid-90s was a period in which the World Rally Championship (WRC) was about to undergo major changes. In 1995, a new technical regulation that would allow a company to participate in the WRC with a 4WD turbo rally car even if it didn't have a standard production car with such features in its range began to be considered. In September of the same year, it was announced that the name of the new vehicle would be World Rally Car (WR car) and, in October of the following year, it was decided to introduce it from 1997. The event rotation system, which received negative feedback, was abolished as of 1996. The number of championship rounds was expanded to 14 rallies from 1997 and the use of slick tires was prohibited from 1996.
Rd.
name
Country
1
Swedish Rally
Sweden
2
Safari Rally
Kenya
3
Rally Indonesia
Indonesia
4
Acropolis Rally
Greece
5
Rally Argentina
Argentina
6
1000 Lakes Rally
Finland
7
Rally Australia
Australia
8
Rallye Sanremo
Italy
9
Rally Catalunya
Spain
Under these circumstances, MITSUBISHI MOTORS decided to participate in the entire WRC series for the first time, with Tommi Mäkinen as its spearhead. Richard Burns (UK) was newly appointed as his teammate. Mäkinen was to target the WRC title and Burns was aiming at winning the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) title. The 1996 WRC, which consisted of a total of nine rallies, kicked off with Rally Sweden that was won by Mäkinen. MITSUBISHI MOTORS had a wealth of experience for the next event, the Safari Rally, but it was the first time the works team operated by RALLIART Europe participated in it. The total distance was about 2,400 km, including nearly 1,500 km of timed sections on rough gravel roads, which was three times that of the European rounds at that time. The MITSUBISHI MOTORS team decided to replace main parts at each service in order to preemptively avoid problems. This strategy paid off, resulting in Mäkinen winning his first Safari Rally after a full-on attack as if it was a sprint rally.
Mäkinen, who gained momentum, finished second in the fourth round, the Acropolis Rally (Greece). He then won two consecutive rallies, the fifth round Argentina Rally and the sixth round, the 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland). He went on to deliver a flawless performance in the seventh round, Rally Australia, which earned him his third victory in a row. He was rewarded with his first World Drivers' champion title, exactly 30 years after MITSUBISHI MOTORS started out at the 1967 Southern Cross Rally with the 977cc COLT 1000F, and more than 20 years after they tackled the 1975 RAC Rally with their LANCER 1600GSR that won the Safari Rally. MITSUBISHI MOTORS had vowed to "one day taking control of the European rally and then the world". Their wish was finally fulfilled that year. The WRC Group N Cup was also won by a LANCER EVOLUTION driver, Gustavo Trelles (Uruguay).
Meanwhile, Burns, who competed fulltime in the APRC, won his first world-class competition at the Rally New Zealand, in which the 2-Litre WRC title was also at stake. Although missing out on the Drivers' title, MITSUBISHI MOTORS won a second consecutive Manufacturers' title. In the Group N Cup, which the APRC added from the same year, Yoshihiro Kataoka won the first title at the wheel of a LANCER EVOLUTION prepared by TASK Engineering in Japan.
Under these circumstances, MITSUBISHI MOTORS decided to participate in the entire WRC series for the first time, with Tommi Mäkinen as its spearhead. Richard Burns (UK) was newly appointed as his teammate. Mäkinen was to target the WRC title and Burns was aiming at winning the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) title. The 1996 WRC, which consisted of a total of nine rallies, kicked off with Rally Sweden that was won by Mäkinen. MITSUBISHI MOTORS had a wealth of experience for the next event, the Safari Rally, but it was the first time the works team operated by RALLIART Europe participated in it. The total distance was about 2,400 km, including nearly 1,500 km of timed sections on rough gravel roads, which was three times that of the European rounds at that time. The MITSUBISHI MOTORS team decided to replace main parts at each service in order to preemptively avoid problems. This strategy paid off, resulting in Mäkinen winning his first Safari Rally after a full-on attack as if it was a sprint rally.
Mäkinen, who gained momentum, finished second in the fourth round, the Acropolis Rally (Greece). He then won two consecutive rallies, the fifth round Argentina Rally and the sixth round, the 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland). He went on to deliver a flawless performance in the seventh round, Rally Australia, which earned him his third victory in a row. He was rewarded with his first World Drivers' champion title, exactly 30 years after MITSUBISHI MOTORS started out at the 1967 Southern Cross Rally with the 977cc COLT 1000F, and more than 20 years after they tackled the 1975 RAC Rally with their LANCER 1600GSR that won the Safari Rally. MITSUBISHI MOTORS had vowed to "one day taking control of the European rally and then the world". Their wish was finally fulfilled that year. The WRC Group N Cup was also won by a LANCER EVOLUTION driver, Gustavo Trelles (Uruguay).
Meanwhile, Burns, who competed fulltime in the APRC, won his first world-class competition at the Rally New Zealand, in which the 2-Litre WRC title was also at stake. Although missing out on the Drivers' title, MITSUBISHI MOTORS won a second consecutive Manufacturers' title. In the Group N Cup, which the APRC added from the same year, Yoshihiro Kataoka won the first title at the wheel of a LANCER EVOLUTION prepared by TASK Engineering in Japan.
