Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the BRDC Classic 2026 - Collectors' Cars on Saturday the 25th of July, The Wing, Silverstone Circuit, NN12 8TN. Launched at the height of the World Rally Championship’s popularity, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Tommi Mäkinen Edition was introduced in late 1999 to celebrate Tommi Mäkinen’s remarkable achievement of securing four consecutive World Rally Championship Drivers’ titles between 1996 and 1999. Building on the already formidable Evolution VI, the limited-production TME featured numerous chassis and mechanical revisions inspired by Mitsubishi’s factory rally programme, cementing its reputation as one of the most desirable and focused road-going Evolutions ever produced.
Based upon the Evolution VI GSR, the Tommi Mäkinen Edition benefited from a host of competition-derived improvements including a quicker steering rack, revised and lowered suspension, a more responsive titanium turbocharger, upgraded engine management, strengthened transfer case internals, improved exhaust system and a redesigned front bumper to aid cooling. Inside, distinctive Recaro sports seats, a Momo steering wheel and red contrast stitching completed one of the most celebrated Japanese performance cars of the era.
Offered here is a genuine Japanese-market Tommi Mäkinen Edition GSR, chassis #CP9A-0203295, completed in March 2000. Finished in the highly desirable Passion Red with factory Special Colour Package (SCP), it retains the correct full-length side decals and black exterior door handles unique to SCP specification. According to the Tommi Mäkinen Edition Registry, this example is number 2, 902 of 3, 020 Tommi Mäkinen Editions produced and was specified from new with Mitsubishi’s Cold Zone package, incorporating features including heated mirrors, uprated battery capacity, heavy-duty heater and rear cabin heating provisions.
Imported into the UK in 2020 and registered on 1st September 2021, this example has had just one UK owner. Acquired on the strength of its exceptional condition, the car has since been subject to a comprehensive programme of works to preserve and enhance its already outstanding presentation. Following its arrival in the UK, it benefited from a bare-metal respray, with extensive supporting Japanese history, documentation and invoices accompanying the car, detailing tens of thousands of pounds worth of expenditure on parts and labour to achieve the exceptional standard presented today.
The result is an outstanding example that combines the authenticity of an original Japanese-market SCP car with the presentation quality expected of a serious collector vehicle. The only enhancements from standard are a subtle centre-console gauge cluster, an HKS Silent Hi-Power stainless-steel exhaust system and an OMP steering wheel, with the original steering wheel supplied with the car.
At the time of cataloguing, the odometer displays 101, 575 kilometres (63, 116 miles) from new. The car is accompanied by its original Japanese book pack, spare key retained in its factory plastic wallet, extensive supporting paperwork and even a boxed Passion Red model of the vehicle itself.
Regarded by many as the ultimate road-going Evolution, the Tommi Mäkinen Edition perfectly encapsulates Mitsubishi’s dominance of late-1990s rallying. Combining genuine World Rally Championship heritage with everyday usability and extraordinary performance, it remains one of the most sought-after Japanese homologation specials ever produced. This example stands apart through its remarkable condition, desirable specification and comprehensive supporting history, representing a rare opportunity to acquire one of the very best examples available and surely one of the best we’ve ever seen.
