Mitsubishi Leads World Cup for Cross Country Rallies
after Second and Third in Argentina

Mitsubishi holds the lead in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies Manufacturers' table after the first round to be held in the Americas - the Cross Country Rally of Argentina - which finished in Buenos Aires, September 25. After 3845 km, 1881 km driven competitively, Kenjiro Shinozuka brought his Team PIAA Ralliart Pajero/Montero home in second place, just behind rally winner Jean-Louis Schlesser's Renault Megane buggy. Top local driver was Jorge Recalde who finished third in a Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero.

The event started in Buenos Aires on September 20, before moving into the Pampas for four days looping around Mina Clavero, the fifth and final leg bringing the competing crews back across the Cactus-strewn Pampas to Buenos Aires again for the finish.

Initially, Schlesser opened up a marginal lead in his buggy as the rally traversed wide open terrain with fast, sweeping tracks which suited his lightweight buggy. As soon as the event moved into the mountains on the third day, Shinozuka stormed back into the lead with the superior traction and toughness of his Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero. On the fourth leg, however, it was back onto the Pampas where the crews had to navigate across country without any tracks to follow. Thorn bushes and cactus plants tore their tyres to shreds, and Shinozuka lost the lead when he picked up four punctures and Schlesser was fortunate to get away with just two. This handed a substantial 20 minute lead to the buggy driver.

The final leg back to Buenos Aires was long at 985 km, but only 196 km was driven competitively, which was not enough for Shinozuka to claw back the difference. The Japanese Mitsubishi driver was fast enough to catch Schlesser after 50 km, but the short distance meant it was impossible to make up the time difference and the Pajero/Montero pilot was forced to accept second place.

Still happy with his result, which keeps Mitsubishi in the lead in the Manufacturers' points table, Shinozuka declared in Buenos Aires: "It was a good rally and we were unfortunate that we couldn't win after we had four punctures on the fourth leg. But I am so happy that Mitsubishis were in second and third places which keeps us lead in the Manufacturers."

The next round of the World Cup for Cross Country Rallies sees the return of more traditional desert motor sport with the UAE Desert Challenge and the exciting launch of the new Mitsubishi Pajero in November.

Overall Classification after Leg 5 (Final Leg)
(Provisional)