Mitsu pulled out because the new CEO was anti-motorsports, and vehemontly anti-rally. Same guy who axed Hyundai's program. It was last minute, and it royally screwed the drivers (Diggins had already turned down other rides) and Vermont SportsCar.
The official line is financial troubles, but if you ask me it all stems from marketing. The only successful car they have is the Evo, and besides the Fast and the Furious the only successful thing they've done with it is rally it. They spent like $2+ million dollars on the championship, creamed everybody, but then didn't bother to air one friggin commercial touting their victories????? The problem wasn't the rally program, but when times get tough it's an easy scapegoat to blame.
Latest rumor is that Mitsu will pull out of the US altogether, where their market share is less than 1%.
Dennis Martin
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920-432-4845
PS. The cars were essentially GrN shells with drivelines and brakes. Not cheap, but probably one third the cost Subaru's detuned WRC cars they used. Why Diggins isn't in the WRC befuddles me.