As stiff as the Evo is, Akaba states: "It is very important to stiffen the chassis by reinforcing the body and frame. This helps to increase driving stability and body stiffness." Since many modifications are illegal under Group-N rules, body rigidity is one of the most important areas for the rally car. Every effort must be made to ensure the chassis is stiff enough to work in competition; only then can the TEIN Type-HG damper set do its work correctly.
Inside, very little remains of carpet and ceiling. Except for Bride racing seats, Takata racing harnesses, and an Okuyama roll cage, only communication and monitoring systems remain. Outside the Evo, the only additions are a set of driving lights and the necessary sponsor decals.
With a stock engine, untouched turbocharger, and 32mm restrictor, this Evo produces approximately 30 fewer ponies than stock. Cooling is kept in check with a higher-pressure Ralliart radiator cap and a very stock cooling system. A Ralliart air filter and 60mm Ikeya Formula exhaust system try and get back some power while staying within the rules, but that's about it. Even the ECU remains stock, due to lack of testing time. Held down by a Ralliart clutch assembly, the list of mods for this car is very short but effective.
Pounding over miles of gravel and rock, jumping through the air, stressing the frame to the maximum before flex, and rallying a car is hell on the parts. To avoid a wheel failure that would end the rally early, the Evo uses a set of Enkei ES-Gravel wheels wrapped in Falken RS-01D soft-spec rally tires in a 215/60/R-15 size. Behind those wheels rest a set of non-Brembo brakes using Rigid brake pads and nothing else.
With so short a list of modifications, it speaks volumes about the effectiveness of the Evo, the suspension, the tires and the prep work. Within the scrutiny of both the SCCA and the FIA, this Evo 8 has proven to be put together quite well. A second-place finish in Group-N and a 10th place finish overall among the rally cars at the 2004 Pike's Peak International Hill Climb has only fueled the thirst for more development and practice. The hill waits.