Road and Track just finished their 1 year long-term review on the Lancer Evolution. They drove it 30,000 miles and had no clutch problems. They drove it hard too. The thing is that they know how to drive hard correctly. I'm not gunna say that your friends drive crappy, but killing a clutch that quickly is their fault. Mitsubishi said he raced it, and hey look, he's been drag-racing it, you even give his times. Not good for clutch. Don't blame the car for your friends being dumb with their clutch.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=1296