RINGSIDE

Today, the Dakar Press Team travelled from Romania to a beautiful spot beside the Hungarian circuit where we pitched out tents. We enjoyed an excellent opportunity to do the rounds amongst the spectators and gauge their reactions to the Central Europe Rally and their favourites. Just how much do they enjoy the experience this circus brings to Hungary and what do they think of the Mitsubishi team?

The spectators who lined the track were extremely knowledgeable and genuine enthusiasts. On one issue they were absolutely agreed - Mitsubishi is the most professional rally team in the world. Not only proven by the fact that they have won Dakar seven times in a row, but general opinion was that those successes were the consequence of outstanding professionalism.

One excited fan enthused “Lots of Hungarians are crazy about motor sports and we have many rallies here, but not with trucks. I don't know too much about them, but I have to say that it’s really impressive watching those huge beasts. The cars reach much higher speeds though. The Mitsubishis are such efficient machines, they’re the best on the circuit. Sainz can drive as fast as he likes, but Mitsubishi’s teamwork is unbeatable; everything runs like clockwork, so I expect one of the Mitsubishis to win again”. We want to thank the fantastic Hungarian fans for their contribution!

PASCAL MAIMON INJURED

After the first special Masuoka entered camp as the last of the four Mitsubishi Pajero Evolutions. What had happened? Why had the diesel taken so long? On arrival at base, Pascal Maimon, Masuoka’s co-driver, had to be helped from the car.

Maimon could not stand on his right leg; he was helped to the tent and examined immediately. There was confusion - the car was dirty, but unscathed. Shortly afterwards we heard the story from the press officer. After completing the special, Maimon had got out off the car to change a tyre, and a local driver ran over his ankle! Pascal’s ankle was extremely painful, but the team doctor could not be certain as to the extent of the damage. Pascal declared his determination to finish the rally.

After 15 minutes, Pascal was taken by ambulance to hospital for an x-ray to check the ankle was not broken. The team waited anxiously for the return of the unfortunate co-driver and could only hope that the doctors would give him permission to leave for the next special.

After an hour Pascal returned with his leg in a splint and bandaged up to his groin. He received a great reception from his team members, but it was immediately evident that Masuoka and his co-driver Maimon would be unable to continue. A broken ankle had ended their bid. The new Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution MPR14 diesel, which is being tested in this rally for the first time, will take no further part.

REMARKABLE: IN THE DAKAR RALLY 2008, MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND RALLIART PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PRIVATE TEAMS FROM CHINA AND THAILAND

The China team will participate in the grueling event with a Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero in the competitive diesel engine category. It’s their 5th entry already.
Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Thailand, supported by Mitsubishi Thailand, will enter a Mitsubishi Racing Triton Evolution. Both teams receive complete backing, so good luck!

Thorough preparation

Since these teams formed in 2004, Mitsubishi Motors and Ralliart have developed and provided training. During the event, they set up a service structure and provided valuable support. Prior to the Dakar Rally 2008, both teams tested their vehicles and trained in Dubai. The 1998 Dakar winner and former Mitsubishi driver, Jean-Pierre Fontenay provided advanced training methods and guided them through preparations.

The Dakar Rally 2008 Team Monarch Mitsubishi Ralliart China

Team Monarch Mitsubishi Ralliart China first entered the Dakar Rally in 2004, finishing at a respectable 51st place overall. This year’s edition will again feature the 36-years-old Chinese driver Liu Bin. He has considerable experience on the China Rally Championship and the China Cross-Country Rally Championship. His co-driver is Thierry Pacquelet, an experienced Mitsubishi mechanic who has previously provided support for Hiroshi Masuoka and Kenjiro Shinozuka back in the 1990's. He also has considerable experience as co-driver on assistance cars.
Liu Bin commented: "On the previous Dakar Rally, I was able to safely finish the event 47th overall. I hope to utilize this experience for the coming event and finish in an even higher position. The partnership with co-driver Pacquelet is very good. I can't wait to get started."

The Dakar Rally 2008 Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Thailand

Mitsubishi Motors Thailand has been supporting Thai drivers to participate in the Dakar Rally for some years now. For the 2007 event, Mitsubishi appointed the young and talented Mana Pornsiricherd as its designated driver, and he finished 67th overall.
This year, Thailand will field a Mitsubishi Racing Triton Evolution. It made its competition debut in 2005 and is based on the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution, with the exterior appearance of a small Mitsubishi pick-up truck. The powerful vehicle is equipped with a 3.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine and, showing considerable potential, will be entering the Super Production (T1) diesel class.
Co-driver Thierry Lacambre of France is a former test driver for a Mitsubishi satellite team and has considerable experience in the Dakar Rally. With their new partnership they hope to reach a higher position then last year.
Mana Pornsiricherd stated:"I learned quite a lot when finishing the Dakar last year. It was a very valuable experience for me. The performance of the Mitsubishi Racing Triton Evolution is just wonderful. I hope this performance can be showcased on this commemorative 30th Dakar event. I will do my best to attain a satisfying result."

THE TWELFTH!

Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart rewrote the history books by claiming a seventh consecutive victory in the punishing 2007 Dakar Rally. After the final 16km special stage near Dakar, The Mitsubishi team proudly drove side by side over the beach towards the finish flag. The success was a record-breaking 12th win in the team’s 25-year history of competing in the world’s toughest and most famous off-road rally. The French crew of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret won the event for the third time in four years. They beat their team mates, and defending champions, Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard by a margin of just seven minutes 26 seconds, after 15 days of bruising competition across Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal.

The team claimed the overall first place on the ninth special stage between Tichit and Néma in the Mauritanian Sahel. For the last six days of the rally, Mitsubishi maintained their position through careful team management, a professional approach by each of the drivers and thorough car preparation. It led to victory without the need to take a single stage win! "Taking the overall victory on the Dakar is the most important thing. It is the best feeling." said Peterhansel.

PROUDLY BETWEEN THE FACTORY TEAMS

Tonnie van Deijne’s team returned to The Netherlands with a satisfied feeling. With their 11th place overall, they nestled themselves among the well-supported factory teams. It wasn’t until the last day that they fell out of the top ten, after being passed by Robby Gordon.

Team captain Tonnie van Deijne commented, just before leaving for a well-deserved holiday: “Our 11th place is nothing to be ashamed about. Gordon is a stage-winning driver. Beforehand, we would have been thrilled with just a 15th place, and now we have classified ourselves among factory teams. That just super! I couldn’t have wished for more.”

His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. After his holiday Van Deijne has been invited to talk about joining a factory team himself. Van Deijne states that it’s still a delicate subject and that there is still a long way to go, but he has high hopes.

MMSP SUPPORTS ACTIONS DAKAR

In 2008, Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart will continue its support of 'African Dakar', an initiative run by Dakar Rally organizers ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) and France's SOS Sahel International. The assistance of Mitsubishi and others will aid the program in its mission to supply plantation and anti-drought solutions to the enormous area of northwest Africa, which is suffering greatly from desertification. It also helps to educate children, enhancing their awareness of the importance of protecting the environment.

Additionally, Mitsubishi's title sponsor, Repsol, works in cooperation with the Dakar Solidario Foundation in a number of charity activities. The support of Repsol has involved the supply of medical equipment, medication and other necessary supplies to people in the countries that the Dakar Rally visits. Delivered by the logistics vehicles carrying the rally's administrative equipment, Repsol also dispatches medical teams.

"We began to support African aid agencies several years ago," says Dominique Serieys, Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports. "We provided a water pump machine and two years ago we funded heart operations for five African children. But now we have spread our support to a wider field. We are not just coming to Africa and passing through without taking notice of the needs and requirements of the region."