Successful September for MML Sports

Successful September for MML Sports

Posted: October 9, 2012 2:31 PM

September saw significant success for MML Sports Ltd, the UK-based motorsport and automotive consultancy. Not only did the company move from the location it had been based in for more than 20 years, in its previous incarnation as Ralliart Europe; it also won a double-head rallysprint event in Barbados with the Suzuki SX4 World Rally Car it developed and celebrated podiums in Belgium with the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC.

The SX4 WRC has been competing in the Caribbean since MML Sports completed its development, adapting technology and systems it already had considerable experience with, in 2010. Since then, the car has consistently demonstrated its pace and potential but this weekend marked the first clear indication of its capabilities.

Conditions for the event were among the worst seen in the area for some time - torrential rain meant that the gravel stage was waterlogged in numerous places. However, local driver Sean Gill was on form from the off, setting the fastest time on every run. By the end of the event, he was pronounced the winner, based on the fastest total time over three runs in one direction and three runs in reverse over the same course.

September was also a busy month for the two-car, father and son Mad Croc Rally Team, with Bert and Bob de Jong both driving Mitsubishi Lancer WRCs prepared by MML Sports.

The first of the pair's outings was on the Tour of Flanders rally, based in Roeselare in Belgium. The entry for the event was huge and both knew they would not have an easy run.

However, there was early drama for Bert, as the steering rack on his Lancer WRC, which had been rebuilt by a local company prior to the event, failed, dropping him back down the order to 20th overall. Once the MML Sports technicians had rectified the problem, he went on a huge charge to regain as many positions as possible and by the end of the event, had clawed his way back to 8th overall, topping the event off with a stage win on the final test.

Bob, on the other hand, was a model of consistency, setting a string of top-six stage times early in the event before gradually improving his pace and culminating with a stage win on the 13th timed test of the event. By the time he reached the finish ramp, he was in third place, just a tantalising nine seconds off second place, after a thrilling battle with the Subaru WRCar of Jeroen Swaanen.

Two weeks later, the pair were in action again, this time on home ground as they took part in the Hellendoorn Rally, based in the town of the same name to the east of Amsterdam.

Once again, Bob demonstrated exceptional consistency and was rarely out of the top four on stage times throughout the 16-stage event. Bert lost time on the first stage of the event but mirrored his son's performance, the pair typically setting adjacent stage times throughout the event. By the end of the rally, the honours went to Bob, finishing fourth overall with Bert right behind, in fifth.

Commenting, MML Sports Managing Director John Easton said;
"It has been a frantic summer for us, as in addition to preparing for these events, we also moved from what was our base for more than 20 years to a more suitable facility. I am delighted and grateful to the staff for their efforts in not only making the move successful but at the same time, ensuring that we continue to support our customers and deliver success for them.

"I am particularly pleased that Sean has taken the win that we all knew was on the cards and was only a matter of time. He drove a careful and precise event in very difficult conditions and the SX4 WRC performed superbly and was perfectly suited to the conditions.

"I am also delighted that Bob and Bert both turned in some excellent performances.

"Bob in particular is doing very well, considering this is his first season in the Lancer WRC. A solid podium and only just off second place in Flanders was a superb result, considering the level of competition and I don't think it will be long before he is standing on the top step.

"Bert's early problems were a bit of a shame but I think he understands now why we recommend that we manage certain areas of the Lancer, as it is our speciality. However, once we rectified the steering issue, he was on excellent form and without the time loss, would have been right behind Bob.

"It was then very interesting to watch how Hellendoorn played out between them. The stage times were incredibly close and it looked as if it could go either way. As it transpired, Bob won out again and fourth and fifth is another excellent result, considering the entry of nine world rally cars, all of which were at least three years younger than the Mitsubishi."

The company is also putting the finishing touches to its on-line shop, which will form part of its website and allow customers to purchase any of its products for the Group N and R4 Mitsubishi Lancer EvolutionX. All products will be available through the shop, from a complete turn-key Group N engine to a Ralliart radiator cap.

More details on the on-line shop will be released soon.

Win and two podiums for MML Sports in March

Posted: March 31, 2012 10:53 AM

This spring is shaping up to be one filled with success for MML Sports Ltd, with a rally win and two podium finishes already for cars run by the company formed from the ex works Mitsubishi Rally team. Sean Gill won the second of the two rounds of the Barbados Sprint event on 11 March while Bert de Jong was third in the Tanks Rally and Tristan Bailey also came third on the National section of the Bulldog Rally in the UK.

The event in Barbados was the first outing for the MML Sports-prepared Simpsons Motors Suzuki SX4 WRC in 2012 and Gill was a close second on the first part of the event, comprised of three runs in one direction. However, the second part reversed the course and he was fastest over all three runs to claim the win for the second section.

On the Tanks Rally, Bert was up against no less than six World Rally Cars, including his son Bob's Mitsubishi Lancer WRC. Despite the large field, Bert maintained his composure and arrived at the finish of the event in third place overall, with the win going to WRC regular Dennis Kuipers in a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRCar and second to another WRC driver, Barnhard ten Brinke, in a Ford Fiesta WRC.

After a slow start, Bailey picked up the pace on the five-stage National Bulldog Rally and by the end of the event, was second-fastest on the final stage, just 0.5 seconds slower than eventual winner Matt Edwards.

Commenting, MML Sports Managing Director John Easton said;
"We've had a great start to the season so far. Following on from the pace that Alaa [Khalifa] showed in Jordan, it was great to see Sean do so well in the Suzuki on the car's first event of the year.

"It's also very good to see Bert start his season with a podium and Tristan is definitely getting to grips with the Lancer world car. He was just 0.5 seconds off taking his first stage win in the car at the weekend and we're keen to see him get a scratch time before too long."

While March was busy, April will be even more so for MML Sports, with events every weekend throughout the month, and multiple rallies on one weekend.

The first is the next outing for the Simpsons Motors SX4 WRC when it competes in Trinidad, followed over the Easter weekend by an event in the Czech Republic. The team will then move to Slovakia for the Presov Rally, before heading further east to the Rallymasters Show in Moscow over the weekend of 20/21 April.

The company will be running Latvian driver Ivars Vasaraudzis in the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC and has been invited by the organisers of the event, which was won last year by former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins.

While part of the team will be in Moscow, another crew will be in southern England, for the Somerset Stages, the third round of the BTRDA series supporting Bailey.

The final event for April will be back to the Czech Republic, rounding out a frantic month of activity for the company.

Order book filling up for MML Sports

Posted: March 12, 2012 11:57 AM

The 2012 season kicked off with a bang for MML Sports, the co-developer of the official Mitsubishi R4 kit for the Lancer EvolutionX rally car. Not only is the company running numerous rally programs around the world, it is also building rally cars to supply to individual drivers and teams globally.

The latest addition to its portfolio is a Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX R4 for the Jordan market. One car has already been built, shipped and demonstrated its prowess on the fist round of the Jordanian National Rally series, the 1st Jordanian Local Rally.

Local driver Alaa Kalifa set the early pace and following the retirement of Lebanese driver Roger Feghali, seemed to have the event win in the bag. However, a mistake on the final stage led to him going off the road and into retirement while holding a healthy lead.

The speed and reliability of the MML Sports Lancer R4 prompted the local agent to immediately contact MML Sports to discuss ordering another car, which is ready to be built for the second round of the series.

At least one car will also make three appearances on the FIA Middle East Rally Championship during the course of the year and hopes are high for success, thanks to the MMLS R4's clear pace on the desert stages.

While the first R4 for Jordan was being built, long-time MML Sports customer Bert de Jong from the Netherlands placed an order for a second Mitsubishi Lancer WRC for his son, Bob, to drive on the national series and around Europe.

Bert was the first and only customer to run a Lancer WRC in anything other than the now-familiar bright red livery, specifying his car to be finished in black.

In contrast, the car for Bob was specified in base white, making Bert him the owner of the only two Lancer WRCs not finished in the world-famous Mitsubishi red.

Commenting, MML Sports Managing Director John Easton said;
"I'm delighted that Alaa was putting in such a good performance in the first round of the Jordanian series, particularly considering the level of competition there. I had a call from him at the event's first service saying he was leading the event overall and he was delighted. It's a real shame that he wasn't able to claim the result that seemed to be his for the taking.

"However, our car obviously impressed, as I had another call almost immediately after the event finished, to discuss ordering another Lancer EvoX R4, for the national series and also, to partner in the MERC. I am very excited by the prospect of seeing two of our cars on one of the biggest FIA regional rally championships in the world.

"It's also very gratifying to know that existing customers like Bert come back to us when they need another car. When he specified his in black, I wasn't sure how it would work but it is certainly very striking on the stages. And similarly, when he asked for the new car in white, I was very unsure but seeing the car in the flesh, it looks really good.

"It still feels a little strange for us to be preparing a Mitsubishi Lancer WRC in anything other than the red that made Mitsubishi famous. But I guess that's progress for you!"