— Fresh from victory on the 2005 Dakar Rally, the Mitsubishi Motors Repsol ATS Studios Team has entered two cars in the opening round of the 2005 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, the Por Las Pampas Rally / Patagonia-Atacama Rally (March 6-12). Dakar victors Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret will contest the South American event in a Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution, while team-mates Joan "Nani" Roma/Henri Magne will compete in an L200 Pick-Up.
"We decided to enter two cars in the South American event, which is the first round of the FIA World Cup," said Team Director, Dominique Serieys. "One car will be a Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution, but we have entered Joan Roma in a L200 Pick-Up body shell, which is mainly based on Evolution technique, because Chile and Argentina are both important markets for this model."
Stéphane Peterhansel, whose victory in the Dakar Rally marked Mitsubishi's fifth consecutive win and 10th overall, said: "After winning the Dakar Rally for the second year with the team, I am looking forward to this new South American challenge. I have heard a lot about this event and understand that we will cross some fabulous terrain and see some stunning scenery. The team has worked hard to prepare for this rally in such a short time after the Dakar success, and I hope to repay them with a victory."
Adding to Peterhansel's comments, Isao Torii, President of Mitsubishi Motor Sports said: "Motorsport is part of the integral make-up of Mitsubishi and is at the forefront of our marketing strategy. I witnessed first-hand the professionalism of the entire team in the Dakar Rally and am sure that everyone can continue our run of successes in South America."
This year's rally has undergone several radical changes and will drop its traditional clover-leaf format for a more straight-line route with several different overnight halts. It does however promise spectacular scenery and terrain, with the crews crossing some of the most remote landscapes in Argentina and Chile.
The Por Las Pampas Rally / Patagonia-Atacama Rally starts in the tourist city of San Carlos de Bariloche, before heading towards the cities of General Roca, in the Province of Rio Negro, and San Rafael, in Mendoza Province. After crossing the Andes, the route takes the competitors to the Chilean capital of Santiago. The route then heads towards La Serena and continues on to Copiapó and Antofagasta, before the finish in San Pedro de Atacama on March 12. In total, the route covers 3,840 kilometers in the south of Argentina and Chile's central and northern regions, and includes 2,540 competitive kilometers.
Both Peterhansel and Roma face stiff competition from the factory Volkswagen Touaregs of Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt and Frenchman Bruno Saby, in addition to a host of rapid international privateers.
