Arguably the world's top female cross-country driver, Jutta Kleinschmidt of Germany came third on the first leg in her Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero ahead of two Land Rovers driven by local drivers Al Hemrani and Ziegler. She, too had an unfortunate start to the event after leaving the road and becoming stuck in the sand while trying to avoid a competing motorbike.

Shinozuka's time-consuming puncture occurred just 5 km before the first check point. He changed the wheel at the check point, but lost a great deal of time as a result.

He reported: "I had bad luck. I had a puncture yet I was being very careful to avoid a problem like this. But there's a long way to go and I will concentrate on winning."

Kleinschmidt, who lost 10 minutes with her incident, added: "I was passing the motorbike when he swerved towards me, so I moved over to give him space but I ran too wide and got stuck into the sand. I am disappointed."

The previous day's prologue was held over a specially constructed course and was used to determine the starting order as tradition dictates, and also to provide spectators with a close look at the cars, bikes and trucks before they headed off into the desert. Shinozuka won the test while Schlesser struggled home in fifth after encountering more deep sand than he had expected and got stuck.

Said Shinozuka before the start of the first leg: "We will compete in hot and hard conditions, but I have a good feeling about this event and confidence in my Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero, and although you always expect problems in events like this, I hope to win."

In the T1 category for production vehicles, Mitsubishis held four of the top five places with French pair Guinot and Kroiss fastest of the Pajeros in second position in the class, just behind the Nissan of local crew Bilhilli and Marjan.