Saturday, June 29th, 2003
Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America
2003 Pikes Peak Int. Hill Climb: Final Race News & Notes

Mitsubishi suffers setbacks at Pikes Peak

The sport of rally racing can be fickle at times and today, that proved true. David Higgins, winner of every event in the SCCA ProRally Championship so far this season, had his first major disappointment during the 81st running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

After qualifying second in Open Class and setting the fastest time in Friday's upper section practice, Higgins gave Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America a strong hope of an outstanding finish. Higgins looked extremely fast in the early sections, in fact posting the highest trap speed of any of the SCCA entries at race mid point. Unfortunately Higgins along with co-driver Daniel Barritt began experiencing transmission problems at mid course that took them well off the competitive pace. They ascended the mountain slowly, but finished the event.

Pikes Peak's legendary challenge wasn't finished with Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America. The team's second Open Class driver, Lauchlin O'Sullivan, had an incident on a right hand turn also near midway. The left rear of the car was slightly damaged, but he was able to continue his aggressive pace, pushing towards the summit. Lauchlin and Christian were fast and looked to be on pace with the other Open Class SCCA ProRally cars, until a cooling problem and eventual engine failure forced the young team to retire from the race with the summit a mere half mile away.

"Today proves that rally racing has always been, and will continue to be, extremely challenging. Even with the finest equipment, the finest technicians, and a proven race strategy, you are always at the mercy of racing luck, especially at a legendary venue such as Pikes Peak" said Dick Kelley, Motor Sports Manager, Mitsubishi Motors North America. "However, today also reveals what an impressive achievement Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America has accomplished with three consecutive wins this season."

With the Oregon Trails SCCA ProRally, the fifth rally this season only two weeks away, the team looks to regain its momentum and focus on continuing its domination of the season.

In spite of today's result, Pikes Peak has given David Higgins the opportunity to fine tune the car's handling. "I am now more comfortable with the car at high speeds on gravel," said Higgins. "With Oregon being a high speed gravel event, this newfound knowledge will allow me to really take advantage of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions tremendous abilities."

With Pikes Peak being a limited points-paying event, overall Manufacturers' and Drivers' points remain unchanged, with Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America still enjoying a substantial lead in the Championship after four rounds.

Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America will next tackle the fast gravel roads near Portland, Oregon at the Oregon Trails SCCA ProRally on July 12-13, 2003.