Feature Car

1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI

Credit: Graeme Fraser

Number Plates:
TOMMI > CLR274 > WRCEVO > GSH536 > MTF689

Driver/Ownership:
2000 - 2004: Deborah Kibble

2005 - 2006: Dermott Martin

2007 - 2013: Warwick Redfern

2014 - 2018: Darren Galbraith

2018 - 2019: Andy Martin

2019 - 2020: Haydn McKenzie

2020 - 2022: Hamish Wilton

2022 - Current: Caleb McDonald

History:
This car was built in 1999 for Deborah Kibble as the first of her cars that would carry the TOMMI name. This was to replace the Pulsar GTIR that was involved in a very serious crash a year earlier. Kibble would compete in the NZRC and Rally NZ, including a finish of 33rd at the international in 1999, retirement in 2000 and 45th in 2001. Consistent outings in the NZRC cumulated in winning the 2001 Group N title, a fantastic result for her and the history of female participation in motorsport and rallying in New Zealand. She attempted to defend her crown in 2002 but was not able to achieve the same result. 2003 was a year for a reset before further outings in 2004. Kibble recalls a strange incident in the car at Rally NZ as noted in an interview we uncovered online;

“Bumping doors in my Evo 6 with an Italian competitor who was stopped in the Whaanga Coast stage at Rally NZ. They had no warning triangle displayed. We ran wide at a cattle stop, but didn’t realise he was there. He came running after me aggressively at the Raglan service park assuming I was the co-driver, demanding we immediately pay for his (minimal damage), and they also put an official complaint to the FIA. Long story short, we were called to an FIA meeting later that night to testify. They were fined many thousands of US$ for not displaying a warning triangle (which was also confirmed by many other competitors). Silly buggers.”

We are unsure if the car used from 2004 was new or whether it was the same car refreshed. If anyone has information on this, it would be great to hear from you.

With Kibble stepping down from running in the 4WD class, the car was sold to Dermot Martin who used it in Mainland events through 2005 and 2006. In 2007, the car headed North and into the hands of Warwick Redfern, including winning the Northern Rallysprint Championship in 2007 and 2011.

In late 2013 it was acquired by Timaru’s Darren Galbraith to campaign in Mainland events, including an assault on the NZRC Rally Challenge title. This resulted in winning the title in 2014 and finishing 3rd in the Mainland Championship. 2015 saw another campaign, this time placing 3rd in the NZRC Rally challenge and 4th in the Mainland series. He was unable to contest the Rally Challenge for a third consecutive year but made a one-off comeback for Rally Canterbury. Unfortunately, he would retire in the second stage of the rally with a blown engine. During his three years of competing in this car, Galbraith would claim three overall rally wins at South Canterbury Spring Rally in 2014 and Westland Rally in consecutive years. At the end of 2016, Galbraith would step up to the Ex-Nigel Marshall Evo 8 and with that, the car was sold to Andy Martin briefly. From what we understand, Martin did not use the car.

In 2019, it was then sold to Haydn MacKenzie as the car to commence his first foray into gravel rallying. He competed in some events as he acclimated himself to the gravel following a successful stint on tarmac racing NZV8’s amongst other circuit cars and then running an Evo 10 in Targa. His tenure in the car would only be brief before he ended up purchasing the Ex-Phil Campbell / Raana Horan Evo 9.
Next, the car then ended up in Queenstown with Hamish Wilton competing in a couple of events, including the 2021 Rally Otago. Subsequently, the car was put up for sale.

In 2022 it was purchased by Caleb McDonald, stepping up from his class B Mitsubishi Mirage that he had been running. Flying a slightly under the radar, McDonald’s pace would consistently improve each outing, quickly joining the front running South Island 4WD cars within one season.

Updated - 8/8/24