Mitsubishi 2003 Annual Report Download - page 26

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 26 of the 2003 Mitsubishi annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 78

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78

24
ANNUAL REPORT 2003 POWER TO CHANGE
MMC has a very long and successful history in two fields of motor sports — the World Rally Championship (WRC) and
Cross Country Raid (CC).
Over many years, MMC has built a reputation for success as a winning team in both sprint and endurance rallies. In the
WRC, it holds the record for the most number of continuous Drivers Championship wins from 1996 to 1999 with the
legendary LANCER EVOLUTION. It also won the prestigious Manufacturers’ title in 1998. In the CC, MMC’s is equally as
impressive with its record-breaking eighth victory in the Dakar Rally in 2003 when it claimed the top four positions, and
its fifth1-2-3 victory.
To leverage these successes and enhance overall operational efficiency, MMC decided to realign its motor sport func-
tions. As a result, MMSP GmbH (MMSP) was established in Germany to oversee all MMC motor sport activities worldwide.
As a manufacturer’s team, MMSP recognized that it was essential to create close communication and working links with
MMC production and motor sport R&D in Japan. Not only can efficient use then be made of engineering resources and
knowledge, but technical advancements in motor sports can be utilized in future-generation production cars. The motor
sport and production activities can then truly compliment each other in both engineering and marketing terms. By maxi-
mizing this new working philosophy through all areas of research, development, production and logistics, MMC will ensure
it has a cutting-edge and cost-effective motor sport activity that will bring success for many more years to come.
After coming close to victory in the World Rally Championship in 2001, MMC’s performance faulted during the 2002
season. MMC and MMSP recognized the problems and took decisive action in order to reverse their fortunes. The deci-
sion was made to withdraw from the 2003 championship in order to concentrate on restructuring and new car develop-
ment. MMC has now significantly enhanced its future prospects by investing in a new, state-of-the-art engineering facility
and in world-class engineers. In particular, the appointment of Mario Fornaris as Technical Director will allow MMC to
maximize the science of computational engineering that is critical to reaching the pinnacle of the sport. The prestigious
Monte Carlo Rally through the ice and snow in the French Alps will start the championship off again in 2004. There, MMC
will launch its revolutionary, high-tech World Rally Car and once more live up to the core values of the Mitsubishi Motors
brand, “passion, performance and perfection.”
MOTOR SPORTS