Impressive debut for Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America's two new Open Class Lancer Evolutions.

David Higgins has given the 2003 Lancer Evolution an impressive debut by winning the very first stage of the car's first event, the 2003 SCCA Sno*Drift ProRally. David went on to win four of the day's six stages and ends the day in 3rd overall, just over twenty-one seconds behind the leader. Rising American driver Lauchlin O'Sullivan had a clean run in his Lancer Evolution today and sits in 7th place overall just over a minute and a half back of current leader and privateer Lancer Evolution VII driver, Seamus Burke.

The 2003 Sno*Drift ProRally is the competitive debut for the Lancer Evolution which will be showing up in Mitsubishi dealerships this February. "Stunning would be the only word to describe this car it is very predictable and extremely driver friendly," comments Higgins. "We won the very first stage of the debut of the new Lancer Evolution, so I'm very happy, it's a proper start for this car!" Higgin's teammate Lauchlin O'Sullivan, was equally impressed; "The car feels fantastic. The engine is strong, this Lancer Evolution seems like a whole new level of car."

Friday's portion of the event saw teams tackle six competitive stages that totaled nearly thirty-four miles of twisty, narrow, snow and ice covered roads east of Lewiston, Michigan. The bulk of the action is on Saturday where teams will face over 80 competitive stage miles on a total of eleven stages located north of Atlanta, Michigan. "I did not push at all today, I was just taking it gently and going at my own pace. We were first on the road today and so we were clearing the road a lot. But we have good road position for tomorrow; we will be third on the road so I will have two cars ahead of me to sweep away the loose snow, I'm exactly where I want to be," explains Higgins.

After winning the first stage, a tire puncture on stage two cost Higgins nearly a minute and a half. Higgins made up the lost time by winning three of the day's remaining four stages and finished the day 3rd overall. Lauchlin O'Sullivan is taking things easy at first and is aiming to build his experience. "My driving style for this event is to just go out and finish. My goal is to get seat time and get comfortable with the car and my co-driver, Mark Williams," states O'Sullivan. Lauchlin finished Friday's stages in 7th overall and is looking forward to pushing a harder on Saturday.

After an impressive start on Friday, Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America is poised to attack further on Saturday in order to achieve its' goal of a strong finish.

Quotes:

David Higgins

Q: Today was the competitive debut of the new 2003 Lancer Evolution and many people are dying to know how it performs. What can you tell us about the car so far?

DH: Stunning would be the only word to describe this car it is very predictable and extremely driver friendly.

DH: We won the very first stage of the debut of the new Lancer Evolution, so I'm very happy, it's a proper start for this car!"

Q: How does it differ from the Subaru Impreza that you competed in last year?

DH: The overall package just seems that next step higher really, the car feels more progressive and doesn't seem to want to snap away from you like the Subaru does.

Q: Were you pushing today?
I did not push at all today, I was just taking it gently and going at my own pace.

DH: We were first on the road today and so we were clearing the road a lot. But we have good road position for tomorrow; we will be third on the road so I will have two cars ahead of me to sweep away the loose snow, I'm exactly where I want to be.

DH: This is exactly where I want to be, we are in the optimal position.