Mitsubishi Lancer Evos Dominate Opening Round Of PWRC

It may be a generation out of date, but the humble Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX has certainly still got it.

Seven of the turbocharged, Group N-homologated AWD rally rockets have placed in the top ten of the opening round of the Production World Rally Championship in Norway, proving that as a rally platform the last-gen Evo is still a force to be reckoned with.

Local Nordic lad Eyvind Brynildsen took second place in his Evo IX, followed by Martin Prokop in another 'Nine. Portuguese native Armindo Araujo took fourth in his Evo with Latvian Andis Neiksans snaring fifth. Frederic Sauvan came eighth, with Bernt Kollevold and Martin Semerad taking ninth and tenth respectively.

Patrik Sandell took home the win in his Skoda Fabia RS S2000, the only non-Evo in the top five. However, considering the heavily modified nature of the S2000 car over the more production-spec Group N Evos, it was a still a victory of sorts for the Mitsubishis.

As for the Evo X, only one has been entered into the PWRC (by New Zealand's Mark Tapper) however it was a no-show at Norway.