2001 Mitsibushi Evo VI Tommi Mäkinen Edition - Car #029

Launched at the peak of rally-mania, Mitsubishi experienced huge success in Lancer Evolution sales, reportedly selling 6,000 Evolution IVs in the first three days of its launch! The 1996 WRC season brought Mitsubishi its first World Rally Championship drivers' title, thanks to a blisteringly quick young driver named Tommi Makinen.

In quick succession, the Lancer Evolution VI came to be and, in the latter-half of 1999, Mitsubishi unleashed a special edition to celebrate its favourite driver's four consecutive WRC drivers' titles from 1996-1999; the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI 'Tommi Makinen Edition' (TME). The Evolution VI was already a technological tour-de-force but the TME came equipped with a more responsive titanium turbocharger, uprated and lowered suspension, quicker steering, an upgraded exhaust, a new ECU, beefed-up transfer case internals, a redesigned front bumper for improved cooling and authentic 17" WRC Enkei alloy wheels. The interior featured embossed Recaro seats, a MOMO steering wheel and red stitching. The performance upgrades saw 0-60mph despatched in 4.4 seconds and a maximum top speed of 150mph. Power was rumoured to be north of 300bhp, rather than the 276bhp 'Gentleman’s agreement'.

Widely regarded as the finest Lancer to wear the Evolution badge, it was available in five colours, with Passion Red and Canal Blue joining Scotia White, Pyrenean Black and Satellite Silver. Only 250 TMEs (across the five colours) were officially imported into the UK, with 100 examples going to Australia, and the rest sold domestically in the Japanese market. Official figures show that of the UK’s allocation, only 50 examples were in Passion Red. According to Mitsubishi, it was these Passion Red cars that automatically received the renowned racing decals, known as a 'Special Colour Package' (SCP), meaning that these examples were factory-fitted with black door handles (so as to not break the line of the long profile decal). In the world of Mitsubishi aficionados, the consensus is that there were just 212 official factory SCP examples of the TME produced.

Car #029 presented here is very special indeed. Not only is it a genuine Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition (CP9A/SNGF2) SCP car (i.e. one of 212), but it is also an official UK-market example. This means it was officially imported by Mitsubishi-affiliated Ralliart UK; hence it would have been professionally SVA’d, and is supplied with UK service books. Supplied to the first of just two owners on 16th October 2001, our vendor bought the car just two years later on 20th June 2003. The specification includes a Mitsubishi-branded Momo steering wheel, a digital clock, automatic climate control, Active Yaw Control, a Kenwood stereo, and an intercooler water sprayer. It sits on a set of white 17" 10-spoke Enkei alloy wheels, housing red Brembo brake callipers and shod with Michelin Primacy 3 tyres and an uprated exhaust has been installed.

Presenting in stunning condition as evidenced by our images, the car has been looked after by the renowned specialists, Arnside Motorsport of Carnforth, where, at 27,875 miles, it received a full service and cambelt replacement service in June 2023. The most recent MOT is valid until 24th June 2024. It's presented to auction with the original Owners Manuals, service book, order form, a Kenwood stereo manual, and a collection of maintenance documents. A truly exceptional example.