Mitsubishi Takes the Podium at Trail’s End Rally

Comrie-Picard and Wimpey won the overall race in their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X, outlasting factory-sponsored teams from Ford and Subaru who were unable to finish the race. Pat Moro and Ole Holter piloted a Mitsubishi to first place in the Super Production Class and Dillon Van Way and Bill Slocum drove their Mitsubishi into the top spot in the 2WD Class. Rally America, which hosts the US championships, allows some modifications to the cars, but all cars must be built using parts available to consumers.

Phil Ternullo, General Manager of Greater Boston Mitsubishi dealer Quirk Mitsubishi, was excited by the Mitsubishi sweep, but not surprised by it.

“Endurance and handling are just as important as engine power in rally racing,” Ternullo explained. “It takes a very durable and nimble car to survive two days of on- and off-road driving. Mitsubishi has consistently delivered a winning combination of power, stability and reliability.”

Rally racing, in which teams of two drivers pit modified production cars against difficult on- and off-road terrain, has been a popular sport in Europe for more than a century. Interest in rallies has surged in the United States since the sport’s inclusion in the ESPN Summer X-Games. Extreme athletes such as Dave Mirra and Travis Pastrana have boosted the sport’s recognition by competing in rally events.

“It’s important to remember that these cars use mass-produced parts,” Ternullo noted. “You’ll find the same parts in a Lancer or Lancer Ralliart at a showroom. Most people won’t be driving their cars down a dirt trail at 100 miles an hour, but a car that can handle those obstacles is more than a match for the potholes on I-93.”

The Trail’s End Rally, held each year in The Dalles, Oregon, challenges drivers across a course built from logging roads, paved surfaces and the end of the famed Oregon Trail. It is the fourth stop on the Rally America National Championship, which concludes on July 16 and 17 in Bethel, Maine.

About Quirk Mitsubishi:

Quirk Mitsubishi, located minutes from downtown Boston on the McGrath Highway in Quincy, has been serving the Boston area for more than 30 years. With dedicated, knowledgeable sales and service professionals, Quirk works to build lifelong relationships with its customers and save them money on their Mitsubishi purchases. To discover everything that Quirk Mitsubishi has to offer, visit them online at www.quirkmitsubishi.net, call 617-249-5847, or visit their showroom at 99 McGrath Highway, Quincy, MA.