31 October-LEG2

Rub Al-Khali
Spesical Stage 404.2km
Total 472km

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart continued to dominate the UAE Desert Challenge, the final round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, after the second stage in the Western region of the desolate Rub Al-Khali desert across the United Arab Emirates.

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution/ Montero Evolution Team Mitsubishi Ralliart S. Peterhansel / J. P. Cottret (Photo: LEG2)

Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel, who had dominated the opening section on Wednesday from Hameem to a finish to the east of Liwa, crushed the opposition over the 404.5 kms second section and extended his overall advantage to nearly 38 minutes after a near-faultless performance in the leading Pajero Evolution/Montero Evolution.

"Today I really pushed hard. Not flat out, but I gave it a lot more to make a test. We have some damage to the front right side of the car and the bumper. We hit a dune hard and jolted our necks. No serious problem. It was a nice route, but not really on a par with the big dunes in Mauritania," said Peterhansel.

Team mate Hiroshi Masuoka, who had held second overall at the start of the section in Liwa this morning, failed to reach the end of the stage and returned prematurely to the bivouac with overheating problems.

Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero Team Mitsubishi Ralliart J. P. Fontenay / G. Picard (Photo: LEG2)

"There was a problem with the temperature of the rear differential. The oil was 180 degrees and Hiroshi stopped. We found the problem was the oil pump. The car will be repaired this evening and we will continue the test session on Friday," said team manager Dominique Serieys.

Masuoka's demise was Jean-Pierre Fontenay's gain and the Frenchman moved up to second place overall in the first of the two 2002-specification Pajero/Monteros. "It was a very tough stage today," admitted the former Dakar winner. "It was hot and tiring."

With Nissan's Khalifa Al-Motaiwi joining BMW's Luc Alphand with problems in the second stage, Italian former World Rally Champion Miki Biasion was able to progress into the top three in the second 2002-specification Pajero, despite losing some time in the dunes.

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution/ Montero Evolution Team Mitsubishi Ralliart H. Masuoka / A. Schulz (Photo: LEG2)

"It is only my second day in the new car, but I am enjoying the challenge," admitted Biasion. "I was stuck today for some minutes, but it was not a real problem. I am learning about the car all the time."

Portugal's Carlos Sousa and French co-driver Henri Magne lost a lot of time with clutch problems and slipped well down the leaderboard.

Temperatures climbed into the high thirties as the power of the sun intensified and the sand became very slippery. It accounted for many of the top teams and Frenchman Jean-François Guinot - who had started the day's stage in 15th place overall - was the fourth driver to reach the stage finish at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Pajero Sports/Montero Sports. He was already over two hours behind the flying Peterhansel.

Friday's penultimate section heads out into the Eastern region of the Rub Al-Khali for a 366 kms competitive stage. The event draws to a conclusion with the official finish at Sheikh Saeed House, Heritage Village, in Dubai on Saturday afternoon.