While Alfa Romeo won class honours at the Bathurst 12-hour with the 159 JTD and 147 JTD, it was Mitsubishi that snatched the overall win thanks to the Lancer Evolution X.
Rod Salmon, Damien White, and Tony Longhurst scored top spot in the Skwirk Mitsubishi Evo X, while the West Surfing Products Evo X of Glyn Crimp, Tony Ricciardello and Stuart Kostura crossed the finish line just 6 seconds later.
Both cars were built by Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, and both cars won the distinction of setting both the first and second-fastest laptimes too. Surprisingly, the TMR-built cars aren’t all that far from factory-spec either.
The engine on the Squirk car is unopened, the turbocharger is standard and the only major changes were a stainless-steel 75mm turbo-back exhaust, Motec M800 ECU, Ralliart engine mount kit and a Ralliart competition clutch.
Suspension bushes were replaced with stiffer Ralliart items and Ohlins adjustable dampers were paired with TMR-developed springs, while the chassis was strengthened and made motorsport-safe with a chrome moly roll cage.
A TMR-developed four-piston AP brake package was fitted to the front hubs, with Ralliart competition Supertraction front and rear diff assemblies toughening up the drivetrain.
“I knew I was hopping into the best car out there, and it was proved today,” said driver Tony Longhurst, a sentiment echoed by co-driver and team owner Rod Salmon: “It’s one of the most spectacular results I could hope for, and the TMR Skwirk Evo X has been faultless.”
TMR boss Alan Heaphy was also ecstatic at the result:
“How much better can you get, the 12 Hour win and the second-fastest lap time with one car, and second place and the lap record with the other,” said Heaphy.
“We came here in 1991 with Nissan GT-R’s and blitzed them, and we’ve done the same now with the Evo X. Brilliant.”
The Lancer Evolution X of Steve Knight, Jason Bargwanna and Brad Jones came third, while the Evo IX of David Wall, Des Wall and Trevor Symonds missed out on a podium finish by a lap. Eric Bana’s Evo X - also piloted by Tim Leahey and Peter Hill - nabbed 10th place outright.
GALLERY » 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X at Bathurst 12-hour endurance race
For the full top-ten listing for the 2009 WPS Bathurst 12-hour, read on:
Final results
1. 1 R.Salmon/T.Longhurst/D.White
TMR Australia Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:00:05.9576
2. 55 G.Crimp/T.Ricciardello/S.Kostera
West Surfing Products Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:00:12.4363 - 2:29.9865*
3. 35 J.Bargwana/S.Knight/B.Jones
PRO-DUCT Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:01:39.6011
4. 43 D.Wall/D.Wall/T.Symonds
Easts Holiday Parks Mitsubishi Lacer GSR
12:01:10.3492
5. 11 B.Morcom/L.Searle/P.Stubber
Rondo Building Services BMW 335i
12:01:11.2521
6. 3 S.Jones/K.Wade/A.Caratti
Messages on Hold / Tyrepower Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:01:55.2134
7. 23 S.Briffa/M.Zukanovic/T.Sipp
GSK Group Holden VE R8 Clubsport
12:03:51.0836
8. 20 G.Holt/P.Morris/R.Shaw
Eastern Creek Karts BMW 335i
12:00:56.9210
9. 24 G.Walden/B.Walden/M.Auld
Walden Motorsport Holden Commodore SS
2:01:48.1913
10. 62 T.Leahey/P.Hill/E.Bana
Love the Beast Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:01:56.3143
Loading ...
Comments
Click here to jump to Add Comment box
How do you get a picture next to your name?
Get a Gravatar. Click here to find out more.
This was a monumental effort.
To go back to the Mountain after winning 1st and 2nd last year with the IX was a hard ask, but to go back there and do it all again with a car that we hadn’t had anywhere near the time in developing like we have had with the IX, well it was nothing short of brilliant. If anything it shows just how damn good the new car is in the Evo X.
The back to back 1st and 2nd are all the more sweeter, as everyone thought the new car wouldn’t be as good as the tried and tested Evo IX, but we’ve proved them wrong. On top of all that, this is the first solid win for the Evo X in any tarmac endurance event globally, so it’s nice to have TMR lead the world stage with the Evo X.
With the Bathurst 12hr attracting more spectators, top drivers and a varied field of ‘showroom spec’ cars as each year passes, I can only see this event becoming much bigger over the next 2 or so years. To me it’s an event that the Australian motoring public will get on board with as they can get their heads and hearts involved with what is going on. Why? It’s because they very same (within a bulls roar) car sitting in their driveway, is the same thing they can see on TV ripping down Conrod Straight! It gets your Automotive pride going, and if your car happens to be winning then it means you also get some bragging rights around the water cooler the next day at work.
I’m sure there are some pretty happy Evo X owners out there at the moment.
MARKETING: We need Live TV coverage, and the general media to report the running of the race. Cobgratulations to everyone envolved.
I see that for the 2010 12hr they have allowed in the BMW M3,that will throw a cat amongst the evo’s. Also it would be good to see an F6 in there as there were none last year.
Include W427 and Lexus ISF aswell. http://www.bathurstmotorfestival.com.au/files/download_3/2010_Class_Structure_Vehicle%20Eligibility.pdf