2001 Paris-Dakar / Daily Report

Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero
Team Mitsubishi Germany
J. Kleinschmidt / A. Schulz

The 2001 Paris-Dakar Rally will be remembered as the most hotly contested ever, no matter what the result on the final 25km tomorrow - and indeed, for probably the first time in the event’s history, no-one can be sure who the winner will be. For the moment, Germans Jutta Kleinschmidt and Andreas Schulz hold first place in their Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero after today’s extraordinary 217 km stage held over the sandy savannah tracks in Senegal. But after almost 10,000km of competitive driving, they’re only 2m 55s in front of second-placed Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero crew, Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan and Pascal Maimon of France.

But it has been an incredible day. At the start in Tambacounda, Masuoka looked as if his seven minute lead was enough to secure victory. The tracks that lay ahead on the final "real" stage of the event were narrow, and it would be impossible for his nearest rival, Jean-Louis Schlesser, to pass and make up any time. And then, and incredible charade began that few would have predicted.

Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero
Team Nisseki Mitsubishi Ralliart
H. Masuoka / P. Maimon

While Masuoka and Maimon waited patiently at the start line for their due time to begin the stage, both Jean-Louis Schlesser and his Buggy team mate Jose Maria Servia jumped the queue, driving straight past to start the stage early. They claimed to have made a timing mistake, but the move put Masuoka at a distinct disadvantage. Clearly upset, the Mitsubishi driver started on his correct time, but tore off after the buggies at high speed in an attempt to catch up and overtake them.

First he was trapped behind Servia, who then broke his suspension and twisted his steering system, thus giving Masuoka the opportunity to pass. But to get past his arch rival Schlesser, Masuoka was forced to take to the bush at high speed, bumping over rough ground. He got ahead, but he’d damaged his car in the process, and was forced to stop just a few kilometres later with a suspected broken rear suspension. Schlesser took the lead, and for a moment, it looked as if Masuoka had lost the race as he struggled for nearly an hour, with fellow Mitsubishi crew Jean-Pierre Fontenay and Gilles Picard of France working along side, to repair the car.

At the finish, it seemed that all was lost for the Mitsubishi crew. Masuoka and Maimon were down to third, Kleinschmidt had moved up to second, and Schlesser was first, over 35 minutes in the lead, and seemingly unassailable. All that remained was to see if Schlesser would get a time penalty for jumping the start.

Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero
Team Hewlett Packard Ralliart
J.P. Fontenay / G. Picard

Then came the shock. The Stewards of the event decided that Schlesser should be awarded a penalty of one hour, along with his team mate Servia. Kleinschmidt was now promoted to the lead, Masuoka just a few minutes behind in second, and Schlesser dropped down to third. Portuguese driver Carlos Sousa was fifth in his Mitsubishi L200, behind Servia, fourth.

It will make for a tense and exciting end to an amazing event that has been so closely fought. The battle will be between the two Mitsubishis driven by Kleinschmidt and Masuoka. Normally, the blast along the beach and around the Rose Lake at Dakar is just a show for the many thousands of people who come out to watch and celebrate the finish of this legendary event; but this time, the last 25 km will be fought out for real, and the victor will not be known until the final finish line in Dakar.

Leg 19 - Tambacounda - Dakar
SS 19 - 217.00 km - Saturday 20 January
Note: J.L. Schlesser had a 1 h 06 min penalty - J.M. Servia had a 1 h 12 min penalty

Times on SS 19
1	J.L.SCHLESSER H.MAGNE	SCHLESSER BUGGY RENAULT MEGANE	2.20.39.0
2	J.M.SERVIA J.M.LURQUIN	SCHLESSER BUGGY RENAULT MEGANE	2.26.04.0	+5.25.0
3	C.SOUSA J.M.POLATO	MITSUBISHI L200	2.27.20.0	+6.41.0
4	J.KLEINSCHMIDT A.SCHULZ	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	2.30.22.0	+9.43.0
5	G.DE MEVIUS A.GUEHENNEC	NISSAN TERRANO	2.31.02.0	+10.23.0
6	S.HENRARD J.M.MARTINEZ	VOLKSWAGEN BUGGY	2.31.30.0	+10.51.0
7	L.BOURGNON G.LENEVEU	NISSAN TERRANO	2.37.59.0	+17.20.0
8	J.F.GUINOT M.KROISS	NISSAN TERRANO	2.38.51.0	+18.12.0
9	A.KHROL A.MARZALIOVK	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	2.39.14.0	+18.35.0
10	K.SHINOZUKA F.GALLAGHER	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	2.39.25.0	+18.46.0
11	C.LE DUC R.TORNABELL	KIA	2.39.57.0	+19.18.0
12	H.PESCAROLO S.DE LIEDEKERKE	NISSAN TERRANO	2.40.11.0	+19.32.0
13	V.RAKITIANSKY O.PYALIN	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	2.40.30.0	+19.51.0
14	S.PETERHANSEL W.ALCARAZ	NISSAN TERRANO	2.50.09.0	+29.30.0
15	B.SABY T.DELLI ZOTI	FORD RANGER PROTRUCK	3.07.06.0	+46.27.0
16	J.P.FONTENAY G.PICARD	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	3.07.14.0	+46.35.0
17	H.MASUOKA P.MAIMON	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	3.13.00.0	+52.21.0

Overall after SS 19
1	J.KLEINSCHMIDT A.SCHULZ	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	70.22.51.0
2	H.MASUOKA P.MAIMON	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	70.25.46.0	+2.55.0
3	J.L.SCHLESSER H.MAGNE	SCHLESSER BUGGY RENAULT MEGANE	70.46.53.0	+24.02.0
4	J.M.SERVIA J.M.LURQUIN	SCHLESSER BUGGY RENAULT MEGANE	72.29.48.0	+2.06.57.0
5	C.SOUSA J.M.POLATO	MITSUBISHI L200	72.31.42.0	+2.08.51.0
6	J.P.FONTENAY G.PICARD	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	74.12.14.0	+3.49.23.0
7	S.HENRARD J.M.MARTINEZ	VOLKSWAGEN BUGGY	75.26.41.0	+5.03.50.0
8	G.DE MEVIUS A.GUEHENNEC	NISSAN TERRANO	76.51.17.0	+6.28.26.0
9	T.DELAVERGNE J.DUBOIS	NISSAN TERRANO	77.49.37.0	+7.26.46.0
10	L.BOURGNON G.LENEVEU	NISSAN TERRANO	84.19.11.0	+13.56.20.0
11	J.F.GUINOT M.KROISS	NISSAN TERRANO	84.21.11.0	+13.58.20.0
12	S.PETERHANSEL W.ALCARAZ	NISSAN TERRANO	84.58.59.0	+14.36.08.0
13	B.SABY T.DELLI ZOTI	FORD RANGER PROTRUCK	86.29.54.0	+16.07.03.0
16	V.RAKITIANSKY O.PYALIN	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	88.11.44.0	+17.48.53.0
17	H.PESCAROLO S.DE LIEDEKERKE	NISSAN TERRANO	89.26.08.0	+19.03.17.0
19	A.KHROL A.MARZALIOVK	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	92.24.09.0	+22.01.18.0
31	K.SHINOZUKA F.GALLAGHER	MITSUBISHI PAJERO / MONTERO	107.36.59.0	+37.14.08.0