Mitsubishi back in the WRC

Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports (MMSP) will make its return in the World Championship as an official team next year, adding some much needed manufacturer support to the WRC in 2007.

Mitsubishi will compete in all the European rounds of the championship, for a total of 12 events out of 16.

2005 Ford driver Toni Gardemeister and 2005 Middle East Rally Champion Khalid Al Qassimi will be the two drivers of the team. Mitsubishi will be entered in the Manufacturer Team class, which is the equivalent – more or less – to this season's M2 category.

Mitsubishi will start its season at the Monte Carlo Rally, using the 2005-spec Lancer WRC. Later in the season, Mitsubishi will introduce the 2007 version of the Lancer, once the FIA homologation is completed and the car is ready for its debut.

This season, Mitsubishi supported privateers in a few WRC events. Jussi Valimaki had three top 10 results at the wheel of the Lancer, including a fifth place in Rally of Italy. Gigi Galli retired at Monte Carlo but finished fourth in Sweden driving the Lancer WRC. Daniel Carlsson retired in Finland but scored an impressive third place at the wheel of his Mitsubishi in Sweden.

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