Mitsubishi's Shinozuka Delayed By Punctures in Argentina

Japanese driver Kenjiro Shinozuka slipped from the lead of the Cross Country Rally of Argentina on the 631 km fourth leg when his Team PIAA Ralliart Pajero/Montero suffered four punctures in the Pampas, allowing his chief World Cup rival, buggy driver Jean-Louis Schlesser, to open up a leading margin of 20m 57s with one leg still remaining.

Held yesterday, September 24, the fast, open fourth leg through the Pampas forced the drivers to rely heavily on their navigators to find the quickest route using GPS satellite navigation systems. However, the biggest hazard were the thorny bushes which tore car tyres to shreds as they blasted through at average speeds of more than 100 km/h.

Shinozuka suffered four punctures, and had to drive the final section slowly and carefully to avoid any more to ensure that he finished the leg still in contention for victory in second place. Schlesser was more fortunate, getting away with just two punctures.

Said Shinozuka: "It was the most difficult stage ever. It was very bad luck to get all these punctures and then I had to drive so carefully. But this was a very high speed stage, and Schlesser was able to drive flat out."

The leading pair were, however, more fortunate than most, with many drivers arriving at the end of the leg on bare wheel rims with the tyres torn clean from their wheels and no spares left. Third placed driver Jorge Recalde managed to hold on to third place in his Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero and is still the leading local driver.

Overall Classification after Leg 4
(Provisional)

SS Overall Classification / Leg 4
(Provisional)