From AutoWeek.com:

Mitsubishi Done
Mitsubishi will not return to the WRC with a new car. The manufacturer’s decision brings an end to one of the most successful stories the series has ever known, with Tommi Makinen clinching a still-unbroken record of four straight titles from 1996 to 1999.

Mitsubishi was part of the WRC when the series began in 1973, then unexpectedly withdrew at the end of 2005. The break was meant to be a sabbatical while parent DaimlerChrysler sorted out its finances, with a return slated for 2009. But now, company bosses have told the rally team that the withdrawal will be permanent. So far, there has been no official statement.

Since Mitsubishi pulled out of the WRC in a factory capacity, the British-based rally team has entered customer cars occasionally on a privateer basis. Officials from the team hope that some sort of rally activity can be salvaged and are negotiating with senior management in Tokyo.

 

I just got the new issue of Autoweek and read that article.
Truly the saddest day for fans of Mitsubishi and rallying.
I understand the reason for the upcoming rule change to go back to Group A spec.
Although I'm not sure that would improve the money situation.
Nonetheless, it is very unfortunate.

 

Back to GpA? I didn't think they were taking it that far..

 

I would love to see WRC go back to Group A. These current "world rally" cars are just too sophisticated and too little like production road cars to keep my interest. Group A was exciting, the cars looked like, and were built like road cars (due to the homologation requirements) as opposed to the one off "gismobiles" that are running now.

 

Maybe not in WRC but you see evo's 8s and 9s in other rally competition's.

 

I've just been told that Mitsubishi LanEvos driven by privateers are coming out tops in the Privateer classes.

Anyway, even if Mitsu doesn't participate in WRC, privateers will still be driving them (and doing well) in WRC. That's some consolation

Besides, Autoweek makes it clear that there is no official statement out on the withdrawal, not at this point in time.

 

"Ford had a significant crash involving one of their cars, resulting in the co-driver's death and the permanent retirement of the driver just two years ago. They stayed in the sport knowing that that risk is part of the game. If that was the case, why would Mitsu pull out because someone "almost" died?"

Markko Martin's crash that ended the life of Mike Park (Beef) and ended Martin's Career occured in a Peugoet 307, not a Focus RS. Peugoet no longer runs the series but not specifically due to that incident, although I'm sure it did have some effect.
Actual Evos, in the Group N sense do very well in national and international series from the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. USRC sees them holding the top 3 spots in the standings just to name one series here at home. Mitsu has had a tough slog in the top level of the WRC as it has less money to spend. The last 2 years of Citroen's involvement in the series before their sabatical saw the company spending nearly 200 million, Ford spends nearly 100 per year, subaru apparently 50. I know the last year Mitsu ran they spent similar numbers to subie as did skoda. Its a question of return for the investment, and going against teams with several times the resources to throw at development and salaries for crews and drivers makes it tough for Mitsu to continue or get back into it in any Manufacturer sense. Said resources can be instead be split between helping private teams with parts and tech advisors and putting more money into the sport Mitsu absolutely has dominated for well over a decade; Dakar. Makinen's record in the WRC was impressive, Mitsu's record in Dakar is staggering.
Of course I'd love to see them return to the top level of the sport, but the company isn't going to throw resources down the drain for nothing and without the money to really go all in as far a drivers and development are concerned that is pretty much what they'd be doing in such a competative series. That isn't to say I wouldn't love to see them do it anyway.