Car Spotlight >> Ebisu Circuit Pace Car

Last time I was in up in Ebisu circuit I spotted something very bright hiding inside a garage at the Higashi course. At first I thought it was a new Team Orange car, maybe something Kumakubo or Suenaga practice in, but I was very mistaken.

What I was looking at was a freshly painted Lancer Evolution 9 MR Wagon, the official Pace Car of Ebisu circuit! I have actually seen Kumakubo drive around in this car many times before, except that was when it was silver! I guess they decided it would be cool to give it a more official Team Orange feel!

The car remains completely stock in every area, which explains the criminally high ride height!

Still, it is made to be purposeful, needing to be able to get to crashed cars on the often muddy run-offs at the Higashi course.

The orange safety lights were fitted just after the painting was done.

The Evo 9MR Wagon was a Japan-only limited edition with only 2,500 cars having been built back in 2006. This particular car is even more special, being a pre-production model that Mitsubishi donated to Ebisu Circuit! Since pre-production models are created prior to homologation this car can never be road-registered meaning it will spend the rest of its days at Ebisu circuit!

That big plastic case in the trunk holds the jaws of life!

The good old 4G63 in completely standard guise.

The Evo 9 MR Wagon came with the same comfortable Recaro seats as fitted to the regular sedan version of the car.

Take a look at the odometer. Not only has this Evo clocked up a mere 1,276 km (792 miles), but it has all been done at Ebisu! It's barely run in! This must be one of the most unique Evos in the world!

-Dino Dalle Carbonare

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1

Sweet pace car.

2

Orange coloured Evo's are very fresh! I love it.

3

seen a one of those in nz to be honest

4

siiiiick! one day i'll make a pilgrimage to Ebisu... for now i'll have to content myself with the live webcam feed from Higashi haha

5

i saw it silver many times on this site, glad its got some zazz to it!

6

Very nice! At first though i though it was a Modded Lancer Estate! Never knew they made Evo estate! The Orange really makes it stand out! =D

7

do want.

8

This makes perfect sense as a pace car, if the sirens don't get your attention, then bright orange color will!!

9

Haha Dino, so worthless on this post... I kid, it's great to give love to service cars, especially a pre-production special. How about next time, we see a service vehicle post on that Team Orange Sambar?

10

I have never seen an Evo wagon be for.

11

More drop!

13

I want one so bad

14

Wow, I never knew about the Evowagon! I'd still take the sedan, but very interesting still

15

my uncle has 1 and were from nz! goes fairly quik!

16

best wagons in the world, hope to own one

17

We actually have 8 units of the EVO IX wagon in my country. I am lucky to drive one. Unfortunately the one i drive is a GTA.

18

Saw a tow truck at a drag event that was in the same boat as this EVO. It would have been 40 years of and still looked new-ish. I bet this end up in some ones collection when it ends it days at Ebisu.

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