Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution/ Montero Evolution Team Mitsubishi Ralliart S. Peterhansel / J. P. Cottret (Photo: LEG3)

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart was cruising towards an emphatic 1-2-3 after the penultimate section of the UAE Desert Challenge through the desolate Rub Al-Khali region of the United Arab Emirates on Friday.

Japan's Hiroshi Masuoka won the special stage in his Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution/Montero Evolution, although French team mate Stéphane Peterhansel remains firmly on course to take the outright victory and will start the final section back to Dubai with a 48m 21s advantage over his nearest rival.

"We had a 40-minute lead this morning, so there was no need to push," said Peterhansel. "I just took it easy. The dunes were quite tricky, but we had no problems. The car is really nice. Now I am ready for the Dakar..."

Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero Team Mitsubishi Ralliart M. Biasion / T. Siviero (Photo: LEG3)

His nearest rival is team mate Jean-Pierre Fontenay, who admitted that the gruelling stage had drained most of his energy. The Frenchman will start the final day of the last round of the FIA World Cup a little over one minute ahead of Italy's Miki Biasion in the second 2002-specification Pajero/Montero.

"It was a good stage," said Fontenay. "I enjoyed today, but I feel very weak and dehydrated." Temperatures soared into the low forties in the heat of the midday sun.

Biasion was upbeat about his first event with Team Mitsubishi Ralliart. "There were some quite difficult sections today, but I enjoyed it. I am getting used to the new car all the time. It was difficult for me at the beginning, because it was very different, but now I am enjoying it."

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution/ Montero Evolution Team Mitsubishi Ralliart H. Masuoka / A. Schulz (Photo: LEG3)

Stage winner Masuoka, who rolled on the opening section on Wednesday and lost any chance of taking victory with rear differential overheating problems on Thursday, was positive after taking a stage win.

"The car feels very competitive. It is powerful and good to drive. Now we have two months to make some more tests and get ready for the Dakar." Carlos Sousa was fifth overall through today's stage in the L200 Strakar, but lost any chance of a podium placing with clutch problems.

With both BMW X5s hitting trouble and the UAE's Khalifa Al-Motaiwi losing a lot of time with a broken gearbox on today's stage, the way is clear for Mitsubishi to take a clean sweep of the podium places. Their nearest challenger was Frenchman Jean-Francois Guinot in a Mitsubishi Challenger, but he lost time in the Rub Al Khali with differential problems.

One of the drives of the rally is coming from the UAE's Marlboro Rally Team star Issa Al-Humrani, the current leader of the T1 category in his Mitsubishi Pajero.

The event draws to a conclusion with the official finish at Sheikh Saeed House, Heritage Village, in Dubai on Saturday afternoon.