ITALIAN BAJA (19-21 MARCH)
1999 FIA WORLD CUP FOR CROSS COUNTRY RALLIES / ROUND 2

Kenjiro Shinozuka Starts Cross Country Rally World Title Attack
with Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero

Japan's leading rally driver, Kenjiro Shinozuka, is set to launch his attack on the 1999 World Cup for cross-country rallies series. The former Dakar winner starts his campaign with the 1999 Italian Baja, driving the world-beating Team PIAA Mitsubishi Ralliart Pajero, backed by the PIAA Corporation.

Mitsubishi's longest serving and most experienced driver, Shinozuka is recognised as one of the world's leading cross country experts, and is the only Japanese driver ever to win the sport's most famous event, the Dakar Rally, in a Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero.

The Italian Baja, which starts on Friday, March 19 from Pordenone, Italy - south of Dolomit Mountains, near Venice - will be a three day motor sport extravaganza. All the leading cross country competitors will tackle two legs covering 680 km after an initial one day prologue session over 10km under floodlighting on the beach at Bibione, facing the Adriatic Sea.

After the prologue spectator special, the competitors will charge along the gravel roads of Meduna and Cellina in three massive laps of the area on Saturday, March 20, converging and then converge on the Baja Motordrome, where thousands of spectators are expected to watch as the high-tech cross country rally cars charge through on each lap and stop for pit stop servicing.

The third day will see a shorter repeat of the previous day, and this time the cars will make just two laps of the route.

"This year is the second year that I will try to win the World Cup for Cross Country Rallies series. Last year I entered the Italian Baja for the first time and I came second, which I think was a great result, all things being considered. The Pajero/Montero is very reliable, and I now have experience in this event, so I'm aiming to improve on my previous result," Shinozuka said.

ITINERARY