road’s track tool We couldn’t arrive empty handed to the RMA event. Enter the latest Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X FQ-330 TC-SST, with its trick Twin Clutch Sports Shift Transmission gearbox and 324bhp and 322 lb ft MIVEC turbo engine. On track at Donington, it was both fast, and fun. The new generation ‘automated manual’ gearbox in Sport Plus mode is violently quick, picks the right gears for track day useage (rare) and leaves you to concentrate on your lines. Grip levels are super high from the Super All Wheel Control, AYC diff technology and you can still wag the Evo’s tail about with ease and safety, with the traction control turned off, using a turn-in-lift-and-nail-it approach = big fun. It’s fast too, sucking in Porsches no bother, much to their annoyance. Downsides? It’s heavy... at 1590Kg. It still drinks Super Unleaded like a Scotsman drinks malt on Burns’ night. The new MIVEC engine sounds horrible. And there’s now a pointless, deeply irritating beep whenever you reverse. That would drive me insane. Cost ain’t cheap either, at £32,699. Is it just me, or was the Evo VIII FQ-360 the best ever Evo?
BIG THANKS GO TO: www.donington-park.co.uk www.rmatrackdays.com www.seanlockyear.co.uk www.carplanetracing.com www.chevronracing.com www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk