Communique 12 - Waw El Kebir, Lybia
Monday 17 January 2000
Leg 11 Sabha (Lybia) - Waw El Kebir (Lybia)
Total distance: 469km - Special Stage: 146km

Mitsubishi Increases Lead As Dakar Rally Resumes

The Paris-Dakar-Cairo Rally was restored to full fighting action again today, January 17, after an enforced five-day halt due to the threat of terrorist activity in Niger. Japanese driver Kenjiro Shinozuka continued where he had left off in Niger, powering his Team Nisseki Mitsubishi Ralliart Pajero/Montero even further into the lead on the short opening stage in Libya, between Sabha and Waw El Kebir.

Co-driven by Frenchman Dominique Serieys, Shinozuka had a quiet day, scoring just seventh fastest on the 146 km stage in the Libyan desert, but they were still faster than nearest rival, second-placed Jean-Louis Schlesser in a buggy, by 55 seconds to open the gap up to 7m 10s. Although the lead is still very slim, it’s been reported by French TV that Schlesser’s Renault engine might be making strange noises today and his second place is now looking precarious.

Said Shinozuka: "Today was very fast, and I was tired because I didn’t sleep well last night as it was very cold. I think that on the stages from tomorrow it will be very important to win each stage".

Fastest today was French pair Jean-Pierre Fontenay and Gilles Picard in the Team Mitsubishi France Pajero/Montero. Now in fourth place, behind fellow French driver Stephane Peterhansel’s Mitsubishi-powered Mega Desert, Fontenay said: "The only thing I should do is do my best to get to Cairo". Peterhansel, meanwhile, is closing in on Schlesser’s second place, and is now just 51 seconds behind.

Jutta Kleinschmidt of Germany and Tina Thorner of Sweden, the fastest all-female crew in World Rallying, made better progress today as the event restarted, pushing their Team Mitsubishi Germany Pajero/Montero up to fifth place ahead of Portuguese driver Carlos Sousa’s similar Mitsubishi Portugal machine, Strakar/L200.

Mitsubishi pair Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan and Andreas Schulz of Germany made little progress today after a puncture and remain in ninth. Meanwhile, Spaniard Miguel Prieto’s progress up the leaderboard stalled slightly today when he too had a puncture at almost the same place as Masuoka and remains in 25th in his Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero.

It was short, but hard day, allowing the competitors to ease themselves back into action after their enforced break, with a flat, fast route across the desert floor before a short section along bumpy dry riverbeds. However, the event starts in earnest again tomorrow, with the prospect of four long stages over the next four days, ranging from 592km to a massive 722km.

POSITIONS ON STAGE 11

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER LEG 11