Ralliart Inc. (President: Masao TAGUCHI) have been awarding the "Mitsubishi Motors/Ralliart Driver of the Year" since 1987 to reward drivers who have competed actively in races or the rally season or won a championship title in a Mitsubishi vehicle inside or outside Japan. It was decided that in 2006 the prize would be awarded to 11 drivers and 1 team, who will be the 20th winners, for their achievements. The prize giving ceremony will be held on Friday, December 1st in Tokyo for the drivers in Japan. Drivers outside Japan will receive their awards through Mitsubishi car dealer in their countries.
In the 2006 Japanese motor sport season, drivers and team crews entering Mitsubishis such as the Lancer Evolution or Mirage in the All Japan Championships for rallies, dirt trials and gymkhanas and Super Taikyu Series achieved remarkable results. In the end, 6 drivers and 1 team clinching championships at the end of the season were awarded these prizes. The "Mitsubishi Motors/Ralliart Driver of the Year" was awarded to a total of 93 drivers and 10 teams in Japan from 1987 to 2006.
Outside Japan, these prizes are given to drivers who have competed actively in the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship (PWRC) or FIA Regional Rally Championship (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific) and won series such as national championships and Cross Country Rally (CCR) in a Mitsubishi vehicle. At the end of the season, 5 drivers are selected as the prizewinners. The number of such foreign drivers has reached 105 since 1987. The "Driver of the Year" will also be awarded in 2007. |
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Japanese Drivers
| Cat. |
Winner |
2006 Results/Profile |
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Fumio NUTAHARA |
 Participated in All Japan Rally Championship JN4 Class (2001cc-) in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Won 4 times in 8 events and clinched the class championship for the 7th time including 5 consecutive seasons and also overall championship created this year. Won this prize for the 8th time.
Lives in Sapporo City, Hokkaido Age 42 Profession: Rally driver
All Japan Rally Champion in '93 (B Class Mirage), '99, '00 and '02-05.
Classified 4th overall in FIA Production Car World Rally Championship (PWRC) in 2005 and 2nd in 2006.
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Shinsuke ARAI |
 Participated in All Japan Dirt Trial Championship N3Class (4WD, N car, 1601cc-) in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Won 5 times in 8 events and clinched the All Japan Dirt Trial Champion for the 4th time including 2 consecutive seasons. Won this prize for the 4th time.
Lives in Seta-gun, Gunma Pref. Age 49
Profession: Office worker for Gunma Mitsubishi car dealer
Started entering in dirt trials in the 1970s. All Japan Dirt Trial Champion for N4 Class in '95 and '02. Participated in and finished the WRC Rally Japan from'04 to '06. Chairman of Gunma CMSC.
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Wataru KOHCHI |
Participated in the All Japan Dirt Trial Championship D Class (free modification) in a Mitsubishi Mirage. Won 3 times in 8 events and clinched the All Japan Dirt Trial Champion for the 2nd time since 2004. Won this prize for the 2nd time.
ives in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Pref. Age 48
Profession: Owner of a building materials company
Started entering in dirt trials in 1977 and participated in the All Japan Championship from 1991 solely for D class. Finished within the top 5 every year and 2nd last year.
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Shigeki KAYANO |
Participated in the All Japan Gymkhana Championship for N4 Class (4WD, N car, 1001cc-) in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Won 6 times in 8 events and clinched the All Japan Championship for the 7th time. Won this prize 3 times consecutively.
Lives in Nagoya City, Aichi Pref. Age 45 Profession: Office worker
Started entering in All Japan Championship from 1986 (series began in 1992). Won All Japan Champion in '89,'93,'97 and '99. Clinched the champion with a Mitsubishi for the first time in 2004.
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Kazuteru KAWAWAKI |
Participated in the All Japan Gymkhana Championship SA3 Class (4WD, SA car,) in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Won 5 times in 8 events and clinched the All Japan Champion and this prize both for the first time.
Lives in Osaka City, Osaka-fu Age 42 Profession: Office worker
Started entering in gymkhanas at the age of 20 and in the All Japan Gymkhana Championship in 1987 at 21. Always finished in the top 6 in the class series since 1996. In the past two years, fought for the champion to the last race but finished 2nd.
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Masahiko TANIMORI |
Participated in the All Japan Gymkhana Championship for SC Class (SC cars, without restriction on cubic capacity) in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Won all 8 events and clinched the championship. Won this prize for the 5th time.
Lives in Oda-gun, Okayama Pref. Age 36 Profession: Office worker
Started entering in gymkhanas from 1991 and in the All Japan Gymkhana Championship in 1992. Was S2 class champion in 2002, S3 Class champion in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution in '03 and '04, and SC class champion in '05 in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
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OHLINS RACING |
Participated in the Super Taikyu Series for ST Class 2 (4WD, 2001-3500cc) in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Won 5 times in 7 events and clinched the championship.
Akihiko NAKAYA: Lives in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo Age 49
Profession: Racing driver, journalist
All Japan F3 champion in 1988. Competed actively in Japanese races such as F3000 and JGTC. Runs the "Nakaya-juku" institute which studies general racing theory. Won ST Class 2 championship for the 5th time and this prize for the 6th time.
Takayuki KINOSHITA: Lives in Meguro-ku, Tokyo Age 46
Profession: Racing driver, journalist
Debuted in 1984. Participated in N1 Taikyu (predecessor of Super Taikyu) from 1990 pre-season and got a record 42 wins (and counting). Won this prize for the 4th time.
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Participated in the Finland Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Won 3 times and clinched the Group N championship. Won this prize for the first time.
Participated in the Germen Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and clinched the Group N championship. Won this prize twice since '02.
Participated in the Portugal Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Won 6 times in 8 events and clinched the overall and Group N championships. Won this prize for the first time.
Participated in the Thailand Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and clinched the championship. Won this prize for the first time.
Participated in the FIA European Cross Country Baja in a Mitsubishi Montero and clinched the T2 championship. Won this prize for the first time.