Romania's fastest car: that's how we could call the Mitsubishi Evo IX specially tuned in Paul Andronic's workshop, Autotechnica Motorsport Centre. With a biturbo engine developing some 700 hp and all-wheel-drive, this fearsome machine allowed the driver to win the hill climbing championship for the third consecutive year, in Group H. And, cherry on the cake, he is again vice-champion in the all categories standings, preceded simply by a Formula 3000 single-seater. But the season was by no means a breeze: after three wins in the first rounds, allowing him to chalk up 18 consecutive wins, electrical problems prevented Andronic from repeating this performance in the sixth round. He was also hindered by supply problems of the special fuel from Italy and had to cope with a broken turbo. There then remained four events: he won two in the overall standings before contending in the last, the most spectacular, always highly attended by many spectators, in the Sinaia mountains. As the regulations ban tyre heaters, Paul Andronic suffered an excursion from the track in the first hill climb but achieved miracles with his team to make the repair and clinched an impressive scratch time in race two.
For 2013, the champion hopes to still further improve his car and participate again in the hill climbing championship, seeking to beat new records. An ambitious programme!
Standings
01// Paul Andronic - Mitsubishi Evo IX, 222 pts - Motul
02// Daniel Onoriu - Mitsubishi Evo VI, 160 pts
03// Ovidiu Zaberca - Mitsubishi Evo VIII, 149 pts
Photo credits: hillclimb.ro
