Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution/ Montero Evolution Team Mitsubishi Ralliart S. Peterhansel / J. P. Cottret (Photo: LEG4)

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart demolished the opposition in the UAE Desert Challenge, with three cars filling the podium places in the final round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.

Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel led from start to finish on the world debut of the Pajero Evolution/Montero Evolution and emerged victorious by a staggering 42 minutes.

"I had a big lead this morning and there was no need to push," said Peterhansel. "There were two or three times where we were not sure about the road book and we stopped to check the route was okay. We did not have one mechanical problem on this rally. The car is fast on the tracks and easy to drive on sand and in the dunes."

Frenchman Jean-Pierre Fontenay and Italian Miki Biasion were separated by a mere 68 seconds prior to the final stage in a pair of 2002-specification Pajero/Monteros, but Fontenay held on to his runner-up position once Biasion lost time in soft sand. Miki, a twice former World Rally Champion, finished third overall on his first outing with the new team.

Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero Team Mitsubishi Ralliart M. Biasion / T. Siviero (Photo: LEG4)

"It was a good experience for me," said Miki. "Day by day I have become more confident. I was stuck today for a while, but nothing serious. The car is fantastic. It is the best. I am so pleased to be a part of this family (Mitsubishi)."

Japan's Hiroshi Masuoka endured an action-packed first three days of the rally in the second new Pajero Evolution/Montero Evolution. He rolled and sustained a flat tyre on the opening day, dropped down the leaderboard with an overheating rear differential on the second stage, incurred massive time penalties and then won the section through the Western region of the Rub Al Khali on Friday.

Masuoka and German co-driver Andreas Schultz started first on the road through the final 405 kms section through Rami Al Buhuth and were fastest overall for the second successive day.

Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero Team Mitsubishi Ralliart J.P.Fontenay / G. Picard (Photo: LEG4)

"It was a very fast stage today," said the winner of the 2002 Arras-Madrid-Dakar Rally. " I made speeds up to 191 km/h. It has been a nice rally, a good test. The Desert Challenge is a unique race. Now we must make a few small adjustments and maybe some little improvements. I had a couple of problems. But I think we can win the Dakar with this car. I am confident."

Mitsubishi was never troubled over this final round of the FIA World Cup and to cap a successful week in the United Arab Emirates, the local UAE star Issa Al-Humrani won the T1 category in his Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero and finished sixth overall.

Both BMW X5 Rallye-Raids, driven by Belgian Gregoire de Mevius and Frenchman Luc Alphand, suffered from fuel and transmission problems and the Team Dessoude Nissan Pick-Up of the UAE's Khalifa Al-Motaiwi was generally competitive but suffered two broken wheels and massive delays.