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Since 1987, RALLIART INC. (president: Masao Taguchi) has commended participants who have become champions using Mitsubishi cars in rally and race (circuit) series, both domestically and overseas, with a driver of the year award. 2008 marked the 22nd time for the awards, with two overseas recipients, eight domestic recipients, and one team receiving honours.
In the overseas category, drivers who have taken their respective titles in Mitsubishi cars in any of the FIA-sanctioned championships, including the Production World Rally Championship (PWRC), FIA regional championships (European, African, Middle East, Asia Pacific) and other corresponding rally championships, including the cross-country rally championship (CCR) etc. are eligible as candidates for the overseas award. In 2008, both the FIA Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) winner Andreas Aigner (Austria) and the FIA Europa Rally Cup - Central champion Vaclav Pech Jr. (Czech Republic) were chosen. The winners were awarded locally via their local Mitsubishi distributors.
In addition, Mr Hidemasa Miyoshi won the FIA African Rally Championship. Despite it being an overseas championship, he was awarded on November 28th alongside his compatriots in the domestic prize-giving ceremony.
Domestically, prizes were awarded to champions in rally, dirt trial, gymkhana, and the Super Taikyu championships to participants using the Lancer Evolution and Colt models, a total of eight drivers and one team being selected as prize-winners.
Continuing in 2009, the"Driver of the Year" award will once again be presented.
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Prize-winners names: |
2008 record/Profile: |
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Andreas Aigner
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Participated in the 2008 FIA Production World Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, taking three victories from eight rounds, champion. First award.
Austrian, 24 years old. Occupation: Rally driver.
Rally debut: 2004.
2004 FIA Southern European Rally Championship: 13th.
2006 FIA World Rally Championship (Skoda Fabia WRC), 21st.
2007 FIA Production car (Lancer Evolution), 9th.
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| Vaclav Pech Jr. |
Participated in the 2008 FIA Europa Rally Cup - Central in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Four victories from nine rounds, champion. First award.
Czech, 32 years old. Occupation: Company management (Construction supplies processing)
2006 FIA Europa Rally Cup - Central,champion.
2007 FIA Europa Rally Cup - Central,champion.
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"Mitsubishi Motors/RALLIART 2008 Driver of the Year"domestic award recipients: |
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Prize-winners names: |
2008 Results/Profile |
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Hideaki Miyoshi
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Participated in the FIA African Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Three victories from five rounds in the championship that has continued since 1981, the first Japanese driver to become champion. His 2nd award.
Tokyo resident, 48 years old. Occupation: Rally driver, journalist.
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Masahiro Sakaki |
 Participated in the new-for-2008 JN1.5 class (1,401 - 1,500cc, 2WD) in a Mitsubishi Colt. Six victories from seven rounds contested, all-Japan champion. First award.
Resident of Fukuoka city, prefecture.40 years old. Occupation: Office worker (construction industry).
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Osamu Yoshimura
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Participated in the N3 class (N vehicle, 4WD, 1,601cc-) of the All-Japan Dirt Trial Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Took 5 wins from 8 starts and his 2nd All-Japan title. Following on from '07, this is his 2nd award.
Resident of Nishinomiya city, Hyogo prefecture/ 48 years old. Occupation: motorsport shop representative.
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Shinsuke Arai
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 Participated in the SA2 class (SA vehicle, 4WD, no displacement division) of the All-Japan Dirt Trial Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Five victories from eight rounds, for the fourth year in a row on his way to a sixth championship title. His 6th award.
Resident of Seta Gun, Gunma prefecture/51 years old. Occupation: Company employee (Gunma Mitsubishi Motors sales).
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Wataru Kouchi
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Participated in the D class (free modifications) of the All-Japan Dirt Trial Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Took five victories from eight rounds, taking his third All-Japan title after winning it in'04 and '06. His third award.
Resident of Hiroshima city, Hiroshima prefecture/50 years old. Occupation: Building materials company manager.
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Masafumi Hishii
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articipated in the N4 class (N vehicle, 4WD, 1,001cc-) of the All-Japan Gymkhana Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Took five wins from nine rounds to take his third All-Japan champion title in the same class.His first award.
Resident of Tokushima city, Tokushima prefecture/48 years old. Occupation: House interior company manager.
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Kazuteru Kawawaki
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Participated in the SA3 class (SA vehicle, 4WD) of the All-Japan Gymkhana Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Took three wins from nine rounds, taking his second All-Japan title since '06. His 2nd award.
Resident of Osaka city, Osaka prefecture/45 years old. Occupation: Office worker (communications company).
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Masahiko Tanimori
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Participated in the SC class (SC vehicle, no displacement division) of the All-Japan Gymkhana Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Took the title after winning all eight rounds contested. Seventh straight year receiving the award.
Resident of Oda Gun, Okayama prefecture/38 years old. Occupation: Office worker (automobile parts production company)
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Team Sequential |
Participated in the ST2 class (4WD, 2,001-3,500cc) of the Super Taikyu series in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Two victories from seven rounds, class champions.
Hisashi Wada:Resident of Osaka city, Osaka prefecture/46 years old. Occupation: Racing and tuning car driver.
Jyukucho Sunako: Resident of Ota ward, Tokyo. Occupation: Driver & lecturer, TV reporter.
HINOKI: Resident of Suita city, Osaka prefecture. Occupation: Tuning shop representative.
Kenji Ootaki:
Resident of Ibaraki city, Osaka prefecture/31 years old. Occupation: Office worker (tuning shop).
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Special prize:
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Hakaru Ichino
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Participated in FIA African Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution as co-driver to Hideaki Miyoshi.Three victories from five rounds entered, first Japanese Co-driver champion
Resident of Zushi city, Kanagawa prefecture/52 years old. Occupation: Manager at suspension manufacturer.
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"Driver of the Year" domestic prize winners |
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© Copyright by RALLIART INC.
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