Mitsubishi in Two-Car Factory Attack on Australian Rally Championship
February 15 2002

One of the new Lancer Evolution VII's and an Evo VI are being prepared at Ralliart Australia's Sydney headquarters for the man synonymous with Mitsubishi in Australian rallying, Ed Ordynski, and young talent Spencer Lowndes.

Mitsubishi will also support a third car, another Evo VI, for privateer Scott Pedder.

The championship starting on the second weekend of March with the exciting new Harbour City Rally in and north of Sydney will see Australia's top rally drivers competing on a more level playing field with showroom production (Group N) now acknowledged as the premier category.

Ordynski said the Group N championship had been "overlooked" in the past because of the two World Rally Cars that had competed for several years but which have now been outlawed in domestic competition.

"The Australian Group N guys can run up the front at the world championship rallies in Australia and New Zealand, which the WRC guys couldn't," said Ordynski, the most successful Australian at the country's annual world championship event in Western Australian and winner again last year of the Group N category there.

He said Australia's Group N Championship, already the world's most competitive, would now be "absolutely world-class", with as many as nine drivers - and perhaps later 11 - capable of winning rally heats.

"This is going to be the most hotly-contested Australian championship we've had, for sure," Ordynski said. "It will be contested at world championship speed."

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd marketing manager, Kevin Taylor, said the company "fully supports" the new look for the national championship.

"We're very strongly committed to the Australian Rally Championship," Mr Taylor said.

"We've enjoyed a long and rewarding association with Ed Ordynski, which we are delighted to continue, and we welcome Spencer Lowndes into the team full-time now. We will also strengthen our ties with the sport by supporting a third entry this year for privateer Scott Pedder in his own colors."

The Mitsubishi squad switches to Pirelli tyres this season, a move that puts it on the same footing as its main rival, Subaru.

Testing will begin in late February and Ralliart intends to have a second Evo VII Lancer ready before mid-season.

Ordynski is looking forward to having Lowndes as his teammate.

"Spencer has a few years of rallying under his belt, had a couple of outings with Mitsubishi Ralliart Australia, and is now on board for a full season - which hopefully will work well for everyone," Ordynski said.

Adelaide-based Ordynski's co-driver for the fourth straight year will be Iain Stewart, of Brisbane, while alongside Melburnian Lowndes will be Chris Randell, also of Melbourne.

"We're thrilled to get the opportunity to do a full season with Mitsubishi Ralliart Australia," Lowndes said. "We saw how professional the team is in the events we did with it last year and now we're contracted for the full season we're looking to score some good solid results."