Mitsubishi Evo X – Rotiform Wheels

The perfect marriage of show car and race car.

When Ravi Dolwani of CSF Radiators stumbled upon a former Pirelli World Challenge race car in the back corner of GMG Racing, the gears in his head started turning. What wasn’t turning was anything on this Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. This car had been involved in a crash at the Long Beach GP back in 2013 and had since then been straightened back to a solid shell and left dormant for 3 years. After some quick pondering, coupled with a love for racing, Ravi rescued this blank canvas of a race car and the work began.

Nothing was to be overlooked on the Lancer’s build, and this masterpiece came to life rather quickly thanks to the ambition of its owner, and the expertise of some of his closest friends in the aftermarket industry. All happening just in time to unveil it in the CSF booth at the SEMA show in 2017.

When CSF contacted our media team about filming and photographing their first road course test and tune, we jumped at the opportunity. With all the love put into this car, both aesthetically and mechanically, how could we not? We were thoroughly honored to be involved in popping it’s racetrack cherry.

Plus it had some amazing Rotiform LAS-R forged 3-piece wheels on it.

While the exterior features are stunning it’s difficult not to stare at that engine bay. Loads of design, engineering and fabrication have gone into making the Evo quite the unique build. From the bodywork conceptualized by Jon Sibal for Street Fighter LA, the shaved bay and molded rear quarters by LTMW and engine components masterminded by Sheepey Race and MotoIQ, this car is going to make you stop in your tracks and look. Hard. With an enormous Garrett by Honeywell GTX 3582R turbocharger producing upwards of 700hp, you might just get sent into the back seat, if there was one.

The LAS-R 3-piece forged wheels couldn’t be any more “motorsport” unless they had it written on them (which some of our wheels do). Measuring in at a girthy 18×11 and outfitted with Toyo Tires R888R semi slicks, this setup takes care of the looks and the function no problem. These Rotiform LAS-R’s were custom engineered and machined to clear the Evo’s massive StopTech brakes while working with the aggressive fenders to allow for maximum lip. Ravi opted for all the details with the 50/50 scalloped register and lug cover with threaded hex nut. And finished them off in a matte black/gloss black powder coat for a stealthy, sleek look that is equally at home on the cover of magazines or ripping around Willow Springs Raceway.

Big Willow is quite a demanding track, but for a few hours it felt the wrath of this Evo X. According to Ravi, the car needs a few more tweaks until it’s fully dialed in, but everything held up quite nicely. It’s good to know that the CSF parts on the car like the radiators and oil coolers are not custom. Even the intercooler’s core is off the shelf. These are all parts anyone can buy. The goal must have been to not only to build an amazing race car that doubles as a show car, but also to highlight that the products they manufacture can withstand the harshest of conditions. Well done.

“The relationships formed from this car with all of its partners and companies involved has been the most rewarding experience of the build,” said Ravi – and that’s a quote we can get behind. Nice job!

That’s a brrraaaaaaap!