Mitsubishi 'introduced' its new cross-country rally competition car, the Racing Lancer, this week - and already the Japanese manufacturer has set its sights on taking victory with it on next year's Dakar, which breaks new ground in 2009 with the switch from Africa to South America.
"In light of the corporate decision to focus the firm's cross-country rallying activities on the development of a new diesel engine, Mitsubishi Motors sees it as a natural step for the Lancer, a commercially and globally important model powered by the diesel powerplant, to take over the competition baton from the Pajero/Montero and the Pajero/Montero Evolution," read a statement to the media.
"The technological expertise accumulated thanks to the firm's cross-country rally programme, which includes the Dakar, will be applied to its diesel engine development, including the new-generation clean diesel that will power the future production cars.
"The Racing Lancer is a Super Production Cross-Country Rally car, which has been developed in compliance with the
FIA's Group T1 regulations (modified cross-country rally cars). It also complies with the new rules due to come into force in 2010.
"Needless to say, the new rally car has profited from the technical expertise and experience gained with the Pajero/Montero and the Pajero/Montero Evolution which secured 12 outright Dakar wins during its uninterrupted 25-year participation on the celebrated African event, a sequence which began with the fifth edition of the rally in 1983.
"The MRX09 features a new, multi-tubular steel frame which has benefited from advanced CAE analysis with a view to optimising the layout and dimensioning of the tubing. The car will be powered by the 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel engine which the company is currently developing on qualifying rounds of the 2008 Dakar Series and the 2008 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup.
![Mitsubishi's latest cross-country rallychallenger - MRX09. [Pic credit: Mitsubishi]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/467881.jpg)
