1999 Cross Country Rallies

BAJA OF PORTUGAL TELECEL 1000 (17-20 JUNE)
1999 FIA WORLD CUP FOR CROSS COUNTRY RALLIES / ROUND 4

Carlos Souza First Portuguese Cross Country Winner With Mitsubishi

Portuguese rally driver Carlos Souza on Mitsubishi Strada became the first from his country to win a round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies when he took victory on his home event, the Portuguese Baja held on June 17-20, driving a Mitsubishi Strada.

After a short Prologue on June18, to determine the starting order, the event was held over one main day on twisting, dusty tracks in the Portuguese countryside near Lisbon. In addition to the extreme heat - temperatures reached over 50 degrees Celsius inside the cars - the competitors faced hazardous road surfaces and clouds of thick dust that often blocked their vision.

World Cup star Kenjiro Shinozuka of Japan still holds second place in the series despite retiring with mechanical problems while leading on the Portuguese round in his Team PIAA Ralliart Pajero/Montero.

Carlos Souza enjoyed a trouble-free event despite close competition from World Series leader Jean-Louis Schlesser in a Renault powered buggy and a wide variety of Nissans and Toyotas. However, by the half way regroup in the 624 km event he held a 2m 40s lead over Schlesser which he increased in the second half to win by 3m 01s. Portugal's Campos was third in a Toyota ahead of Jose-Maria Servia of Spain in a buggy and Mendes from Portugual who drove a Seat.

(Photo by Yoshikazu Nakajima)

1.	C. Sousa / M. Feid	P/P	Mitsubishi Strada/L200	9:08'33	T-3
2.	J-L. Schelesser / PH. Monnet	F/F	Schlesser Renault Magne	03'01	T-3
3.	F. Campos / P. Figueiredo	P/P	Toyota Land Cruiser	11'47	T-2
4.	J-M. Servia / T-D. Zotti	E/F	Schlesser Renault Magne	13'35	T-3
5.	S. Mendes / A-T. Fortes	P/P	Seat Toledo	28'42	T-3
6.	T-M. Breyner / J. Batista	P/P	Nissan Terrano II	34'53	T-2
7.	F. Esperto / F. Fernandes	P/P	Mitsubishi Strada/L200	38'04	T-3
8.	N. Rocha / P. Tavares	P/P	Nissan Terrano II	54'43	T-2
9.	T. Andretta / M. Simoni	I/I	Mitsubishi Pajero/ Montero	55'54	T-1
10.	M. Plaza / I. Salvador	E/E	Mitsubishi Pajero/ Montero	55'28	T-3
*The time, under 2nd position is tde difference from tde top.