World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies

2.Nov.2001

Rd.9 UAE Marlboro Desert Challenge 2001
FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies

[SS4]

KLEINSCHMIDT'S VALIANT ATTACK
NOT ENOUGH TO CLAIM WORLD TITLE

Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt made a valiant attempt to win the UAE Marlboro Desert Challenge for the first time and become the first woman in the history of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies to take a world title. But it ended in vain 64 kms from the end of the final stage near the Al-Ghantoot Polo Club, near Dubai, this afternoon (Friday), when the engine expired in her Mitsubishi Pajero /Montero.

Trailing her former team mate and arch rival Jean-Louis Schlesser by 13m 24s. at the start of the shortened 324 kms final section from Ram Al Buhuth to the finish near Ghantoot, Jutta and co-driver Andreas Schultz needed to win the stage at all costs in their Mitsubishi Pajero /Montero.

And it could easily have happened. Defending World Champion Schlesser clouted a sand hole at speed before the first passage control and damaged the front of the Renault Megane, dropping two minutes to his Mitsubishi rival by the first passage control point.

However, the Frenchman stayed within striking distance over the final three sections, which crossed a variety of oil field tracks, sand holes, spits and small dunes. He moved ahead through the middle of the stage and the contest was settled in his favour with Jutta's cruel engine failure.

"I gave it my best shot today," said the dejected German. "We were running well and ahead of Jean-Louis for a time. I lost a little time around a sand hole and then the engine let go. It's very disappointing, but it's been a very exciting year, a season in motorsport that I will never forget. I must look ahead now to the Dakar and the defence of my title."

Frenchman Jean-Pierre Fontenay and Japanese driver Kenjiro Shinozuka were in a class of their own in the Super Production Mitsubishi Pajeros, entered in the National Rally. They were separated by a mere 20 seconds at the start of the final stage and held station to take first and second places in the National section - an excellent test session for the new Super Production Pajeros.

Fontenay beat his team mate by 1m 15s today, as the pair arrived at the finish in a troublfreee convoy. "It was a good test," explained the Frenchman. "Now we must look ahead with confidence to Dakar."

Mitsubishi Ralliart will now spend the next few weeks putting the finishing touches to preparations for the Arras-Madrid-Dakar Rally, which begins in Arras, Northern France, on December 28th and finishes in Dakar on January 13th, 2002.

FINAL OVERALL

	DRIVER / CO-DRIVER	CAR	NAT.	TIME	DIFF
1	J.L.Schlesser/H.Magne	Schlesser Buggy Renault Megane	F	14.59.43
3	Y.Bilhili/K.Al-Kendi	Chevrolet Tahoe	UAE	19.38.02	4.38.19
4	J.P.Strugo/Y.Ferri	Mercedes ML 430	F	19.59.07	4.59.24
5	T.Mitri/Osman	Land Rover110	UAE	20.12.11	5.12.28
6	B.Garland/S.Green	Holden Jackaroo	AUS	20.26.15	5.26.32
7	V.Rakityaskiy/V.Demianenko	Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero	RUS	20.37.18	5.37.35

Nationalities:
AUS=Australia / D=Germany / F=France / RU=Burundi / RUS=Russia / UAE=United Arab Emirates