The "Dakar" - the greatest motor sport adventure known to man. The 1983 event, running from January 1 - 20 and covering 10,000 km required a special kind of machine. Down through central Africa and across to the western side of the great continent, the drivers and their machines faced everything from rocky tracks to open, sandy Saharan desert;  only the few would make it. For Mitsubishi, the choice of vehicle for this epic high-speed journey through Africa was easy: the Pajero, with its powerful engine and amazingly tough and durable four-wheel drive system was the epitome of high performance off-road machines. The Pajero had made its debut just the year before in Japan in 1982. It was entered in the 5th running of the Paris-Algiers-Dakar in standard trim, probably the greatest challenge for a road-going vehicle with little modification. Yet, by the tenth day, Andrew Cowan and Colin Malkin had powered their way into the lead of the Production and Marathon classes, astounding onlookers as the newcomer stole the show. Sandstorms, rocks, and extreme heat could do little to stop the durable Pajero, and even though it was running in the Marathon class, which meant that little could be changed or replaced on the car, the Pajero romped home victorious at its first attempt at this arduous event. In the process Cowan, and Debussy in a second car together with their Sonauto/Yamaha team mates picked up the team prize making it the most complete victory possible.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION1983 Paris - Alger - Dakar Rally
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Copyright 1996,1997 by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
