GRANADA-DAKAR 1999
Communique 9
LEG 8: NIORO - BOBO DIOULASSO
Distance: 1000 KM
Stage distance: 384 KM


BOBO DIOULASSO, BURKINA FASO
Friday, January 8, 1999

PRIETO SCORES ANOTHER STAGE WIN
FOR MITSUBISHIAS BATTLE HOTS UP

Incredibly, with half of the 9762 km route of the 21st Dakar completed, just 5m 40s separate the top three competitors, with Mitsubishi Montero crew Miguel Prieto of Spain and Dominique Serieys of France scoring fastest time for the third time on event to move into second place, just 2m 09s off the lead. Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt, partnered by Swede Tina Thorner, are third in their Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero, only 3m 30s behind Prieto.

The 1999 Dakar is turning out to be one of the most hotly contested ever, with three crews neck and neck at the front of the field. The special stage in final leg of the first half, taking the remaining 48 cars and 21 trucks from Nioro in Mali to Bobo Dioulasso in Burkina Faso, was shortened today by 50 km while the motor bikes were allowed the dayoff after arriving late last night at Nioro, and rode straight to Bobo.

The fog-like dusty conditions made navigation and fast driving almost impossible on the eighth leg, with many competitors getting lost several times. Rally leader Jean-Louis Schlesser suffered badly with lack of visibility in his buggy, but just managed to hang on precariously in front.

Kleinschmidt, undoubtedly the fastest woman ever on the Dakar, slipped to third place in her Pajero, but was extremely close to the lead. The German driver had moved far ahead of Schlesser until between the second checkpoint and the finish her windscreen was smashed and she ended up fourth quickest. She arrived at the end of the stage with a bent wing, reportedly caused by hitting a tree in the dust.

Frenchman Jean-Pierre Fontenay scored third fastest in his Team PIAA Mitsubishi Ralliart Pajero/Montero, just behind surprise second fastest driver Thierry De Lavergne in his Nissan, who now lies seventh overall. Japanese driver Hiroshi Masuoka held onto fifth position in his mitsubishi Pajero Sport/Montero Sport, despite losing a great deal of time today.

The T1 category for standard cars is being fought just as hotly as the overall competition, with ex-world champion skier Luc Alphand retaking the lead in his Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero.

In fourth place, Kenjiro Shinozuka of Japan was still going strong, although he appeared to lose a great deal of time in the sand storms today and at the half way point is now over two hours behind the leading trio in his Team Mitsubishi Oil Ralliart Pajero.

Tomorrow, Saturday, January 9, 1999
REST DAY: BOBO DIOULASSO


At the half way point of this year's epic Dakar Rally, the surviving competitors will enjoy some hard-earned rest from the rigours and trials of the past eight days of hard driving through some of the most inhospitable terrain in Africa.

8th stage, Nioro-Bobo Dioulasso / Total 1000km, SS 460km
(Friday, January 8, 1999)