GRANADA-DAKAR 1999
Communique 16
LEG 14: ATAR - NOUAKCHOTT
Distance: 504 KM
Stage distance: 433 KM


NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA
Friday, January 15, 1999

PRIETO FIGHTS TO THE LAST WHILE ALPHAND LOOKS CERTAIN
OF PRODUCTION CLASS VICTORY FOR MITSUBISHI

Battling Spaniard Miguel Prieto blasted his way to the Atlantic coast in Mauritania today, still just minutes off the lead in the 1999 Granada-Dakar Rally in his Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero. With just two stages totalling around 170 km of the event left, Prieto, co-driven by Frenchman Dominique Serieys, needs luck on his side if he is to win, but fellow Mitsubishi driver, Luc Alphand of France, looks certain of victory in his standard Pajero/Montero in the T1 production category.


The final long stage in this year's Dakar, from Atar to the Mauritanian Capital Nouakchott, threatened to be the sting in the tail after some 9,000 km of hard driving through the Sahara Desert. But even after 433 km today, the main protagonists, rally leader Jean-Louis Schlesser in a buggy and Prieto in his Mitsubishi, finished the stage just seconds apart on the 14th leg, and now only 27m 46s split first and second after two weeks of hard competition. With two short, easy stages to go, Prieto needs a stroke of good fortune if he is to catch Schlesser, but his current second place will be his best ever Dakar result if he makes it to the Senegalese Capital.


Prieto admitted: "This was not a day for risks. It was more important for me to maintain my second position, and I am very happy to do so well in a car that is new to me. I'm very pleased with the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero."

Former world ski champion Alphand, however, looks very comfortable in first place in the T1 category for standard production vehicles, driving a Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero. Provided he can keep the car going, the relatively inexperienced Dakar competitor can look forward to a warm reception in Dakar as tens of thousands of spectators welcome one of France's most famous sportsmen home. Brazilian Klever Kolberg is currently second, also in a Mitsubishi. Dominating the category, Mitsubishis also fill third and fourth positions as the rally draws to aclose, with Jean-Pierre Sturgo in third in a Pajero, and Neil Woolridge fourth, also in a Pajero.

German lady Jutta Kleinschmidt, co-driven by Sweden's Tina Thorner, were still going strong in third place at Nouakchott in their Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero. If they make it to Dakar the girls will make history as the first female crew ever to make it to the podium in this gruelling, male-dominated event.

Jutta revealed: "When we were leading we could dream of reaching Dakar in first place and I think we did well. At this stage you cannot gain a place, only lose one if you have a problem. So, I am happy with what we have done."

Kenjiro Shinozuka, who himself made history by becoming the first Japanese driver ever to win the event just two years ago, is currently fourth in the Team Mitsubishi Oil Ralliart Pajero/Montero, while last year's victor, France's Jean-Pierre Fontenay, has been playing a support role to Prieto this week, after massive time losses on the first half of the event in his Team PIAA Ralliart Pajero. Fontenay is ninth overall at Nouakchott.

Japan's Hiroshi Masuoka has been involved in a tough battle of his own in the Team Ralliart Pajero Sport/Montero Sport. In the last half of the event he managed to break clear of the challenging Nissans of Stephane Peterhansel and Thierry De Lavergne, and at Nouakchott Masuoka looks comfortable in sixth position, just over an hour ahead of the nearest Nissan.

Just 40 cars and 54 bikes attempted the stage between Atar and Nouakchott.

Tomorrow, Saturday, January 16, 1999
LEG 15: NOUAKCHOTT - SAINT-LOUIS (SENEGAL)
Distance: 257 KM
Special Stage: 151 KM

The 1999 Dakar is not over yet, with another 151 km competitive section taking the survivors into Senegal along the Barbary Coast. The first 20 km will be twisty and fairly fast, before the competitors turn onto the beach for a long blast down to the "Langue Barbarie" and the end of the stage. There, they will be welcomed by the thousands of spectators, many of whom will be supporters, sponsors or friends welcoming them back after two weeks of hard driving in the desert and African bush.