There are some tools whose usage is so specific that you marvel at the brains behind their invention. A surgeon’s scalpel, an astronomer’s telescope and an astronaut’s spacesuit were all invented to assist and, more importantly, enhance the work of these specialists.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 MR (Evo 9) you see here belongs in the same category. Its proud owner, James Mitchell, a banker by profession and hardcore track junkie by obsession, left its tuner, Garage R, with just one instruction: Make it the fastest Evo ever to lap Sepang.
With that, this once fully-standard car spent more than nine months in the workshop. And this is the result.
The APR Evil-R widebody kit, coupled with the C-West Carbon Aero bonnet and huge APR GTC-300 Evo Spec rear wing, make this Evo look like it drove out from a Super GT race. Add in the HKS Hipermax graphics and super-low stance, courtesy of customised HKS Hipermax Pro Performer SPL coilovers, and this is one seriously outstanding-looking Evo.
Step closer to the car and a few more things “jump” out at you, giving further insight into the purpose of its existence.
There is no interior to speak of: no rear seats, no centre console, no carpeting and no roof lining. Even the door panels are now lightweight carbon-fibre items.
The dashboard has been retained. But even this has been swathed in carbon fibre and reworked to include a myriad of additional knobs, switches and lights, including an “engine start” button, and alternator and an oil pressure warning lamp. The original speedo and tacho cluster is hidden behind a MOTEC display unit – perfect for finding out the last lap time and maximum top speed.
Pop open the bonnet and what a sight it is! Lester Wong, the boss of Garage R and qualified HKS engineer, has literally “thrown” the whole HKS catalogue for the Evo 9 into its engine bay – intercooler, injectors, cam pulley, fuel rail, ignition, oil cooler, spark plugs and then some.
The conductor for this orchestra of performance parts is the much-vaunted HKS F-Con V Pro engine management system. And in the experienced hands of Wong, it is now tuned to produce 470bhp and 580Nm, while running at a peak boost of 1.6 bar.
But 470bhp hardly ranks among the highest horsepower count ever found on an Evo. Yet, it managed to clock a lap time of 2min 16.553s at the MPT Super Time Attack held in July. This was faster than the 13 other Evos that also participated.
And what makes this Evo 9 so quick around Sepang? For one, Mitchell is a good driver who knows his car intimately and has taken part in numerous professional races. Hence, he is able to wring every last hundredth out of it.
However, it is the car’s undercarriage and chassis that are the main reasons behind its lapping prowess. Every one of the HKS and Nagisa components, ranging from the coilovers to the bushings and tie rods, have been carefully selected, fitted and adjusted, so that this car is almost devoid of body roll during hard cornering and, hence, is able to put its power down cleanly.
Also helping are the lightweight, forged Volk Racing RE30 F1 Edition, measuring 18 x 9.5 inches, and the super-grippy Michelin racing slicks (265/40 R18).
Mitchell showed me a video of his Evo lapping at Sepang. Even through the more challenging corners such as the downhill Turn 3 and super-tight uphill Turn 9, the car remained flat as a pancake – no body roll whatsoever. This allowed him to apply the throttle much earlier and, hence, exit at a much higher speed.
Endowed with this ability to zip through corners and down straights much faster than most cars, this Evo 9 is equally prodigious when it comes to shedding speed. Ably performing braking duties are a set of AP callipers (6-pot for the front and 4-pot for the rear), shod with Ferrodo DS2500 brake pads, and clamping on dinner plate-size ventilated disc rotors.
Obviously, the project wasn’t cheap (and no one was willing to divulge any numbers), but the amount of time and effort spent by Garage R’s team was considerable.
And even as you read this story, plans are underway for another special machine that will go even faster than this Evo. Rumour has it that it has just two doors and lays its power down through the rear wheels.
THE LIST
+ Exterior
>APR Evil-R widebody aerodynamic kit,
GTC-300 Evo Spec GT Wing
> C-WEST carbon aero bonnet
> HKS Hipermax graphics
+ Engine/Electronics
> Cosworth Mivec camshafts, dual valve springs & titanium retainer
> HKS cam pulley, 680cc injectors, billet fuel rail, Kansai in-tank fuel pump, F-Con V Pro Engine Management, EVC V, Twin Power Ignition System, Super Fire racing plugs, Spec R titanium exhaust, Type R intercooler kit, oil cooler
+ Undercarriage
> HKS Hipermax Pro Performer SPL coilovers, Motorsports Dog Drive transmission,
GD Pro SPL twin plate clutch
> NAGISA AUTO MOTOR SPORTS SPL tie
Rod Ends, lower arms, bushings, roll centre adjuster
+ Wheels/Brakes
> Volk Racing RE30 F1 Edition
18” forged alloy wheels
> MICHELIN 18” racing slicks
> AP RACING 6-pot & 4-pot callipers,
slotted brake disc rotors
> FERRODO DS2500 brake pads
