Mitsubishi shot back into contention for the 2002 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies title, when Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel gave Team Mitsubishi Ralliart an emphatic victory in the eight-day, 3000 kms Optic 2000 Rally of Tunisia, the second event on this year's championship, which finished on Sunday, near Tozeur. (Organised by French company Neveu Pelletier Organisation(NPO)).

Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero S. Peterhansel / J.P. Cottre

Peterhansel showed potential despite being a relative newcomer to the off-road scene along with Dubai's Khalifa Al-Motaiwi in a second Mitsubishi Pajero. Following the Prologue in Nice and the crossing to North Africa, Al-Motaiwi set impressive stage times, led after the opening desert section and took a pair of stage wins with German navigator Andreas Schultz.

However, it was Peterhansel's valuable experience on international events that ultimately paid dividends. The five-time winner of the Dakar Rally on two wheels got his new four-wheel career with Mitsubishi underway in winning style.

"I have won most things there are to win on two wheels," insisted Peterhansel. "But I still have several ambitions on four wheels." The Frenchman finished second overall on the 2000 Paris-Dakar-Cairo Rally and won the T1 category on the Dakar the following year, but believes that a switch to Mitsubishi could offer him his finest chance of winning the coveted world title.

Al-Motaiwi was delighted to finish second overall in a Mitsubishi, with support from the Dubai Government. "At times the weather on the rally was appalling, with strong winds, sandstorms and poor visibility," admitted Al-Motaiwi, a former winner of the Qatar International Rally and a regular participant in the UAE Desert Challenge.

Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero S. Peterhansel / J.P. Cottre

"It would have been unwise for me to push at times, but I badly wanted to finish this race and couldn't have asked more than second place. Both Stephane and I had several flat tyres and damaged wheel rims towards the end and decided to run together to ensure that we reached the finish."

Al-Motaiwi, who beat Peterhansel by over four minutes in the 280-kms El Borma sacrificed some time on the closing stages to ensure the well being of an injured rival.

The Schlesser-Renaults aimed to extend their advantage in the FIA World Cup - Jean-Louis Schlesser and Jose-Marie Servia were first and second overall in the Baja Italy last month. But, it was a miserable week for the Schlesser team, with Servia crashing out and reigning World Champion Jean-Louis Schlesser sidelined after being unable to repair his battered Buggy. Team Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Jean-Pierre Fontenay also retired early on after destroying his Pajero in a high-speed accident.

The weather worsened over the closing stages and the organisers were forced to cancel the 281-kms section from El Borma to Kasar Ghilane because of a violent sandstorm forcing several teams to spent the night in the desert. "The section was cancelled in the interests of safety," admitted Mitsubishi team manager Dominique Serieys. "The organisers waited for all competitors to arrive and then the entrants were regrouped and led in convoy to the next town. It was appalling weather. In my 10 years of rallying I have never seen weather like this. But I was delighted with Stephane. He drove fast with a good strategy in difficult conditions. Khalifa also drove very well and maybe we can work with him again later in the year. He is a young driver and I'm sure he would race well in Dubai. It was a shame for Jean-Pierre. He is okay, but the car was very badly damaged."

Clearer conditions prevailed over the final sections between Ksar Ghilane and Nefta and onwards to Touzeur, where both Peterhansel and Al-Motaiwi conceded a stage win to Frenchman Thierry de Lavergne's Nissan Pathfinder. But there were no problems over the final 210 kms section - of which 166 were competitive - and Mitsubishi finished a jubilant one-two, with Peterhansel winning the final stage.

Former Italian enduro rider Edi Orioli drove well in a Nissan to finish third, ahead of the Russian Mitsubishi driver Alexander Khrol and co-driver Alexandre Mazzaliovic. Nissan's de Lavergne was fifth and Francois Cros completed the top six. Former German enduro rider Andrea Mayer switched to four wheels and her run in a Mitsubishi was rewarded with an excellent 10th place.

The next round of the 2002 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies will be the Orpi Rally of Morocco on June 4/9th.