MITSUBISHI PAJERO EVOLUTION'S SWANSONG
The petrol-powered Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution has driven its final competitive outing: the inaugural 'PAX Rally’ in Portugal. It was the second contest to figure in the newly created Dakar Series.
After more than 10 hours of competitive driving through central and southern Portugal since Wednesday morning's start, Peterhansel and Sainz were split by just 31 seconds – in the Spaniard's favour, but in the the 5th leg Stéphane Peterhansel took overall victory in a breathtaking final!
LEG 1: A STRONG START
"This rally is essentially an opportunity for the drivers and the team to stay match fit as our 2008 programme draws to an end and the countdown to the 2009 Dakar begins," noted Team Director Dominique Serieys.
The week's first taste of competitive action took crews northeast from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, to Castelo Branco. Determined runs on the opening day of the rally from all three Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart crews have seen Luc Alphand/Gilles Picard emerge as the early leaders. Before the start, Alphand warned that he intended to hit the ground running and, despite suffering from dehydration over the latter part of today's 223km stage, he respected that promise to the letter. A final burst of speed over the closing kilometres enabled him to beat former WRC champ Carlos Sainz to first place by a margin of just two seconds.
LEG 2: A PORTUGUESE THRILLER
The PAX Rally turned out to be one of the closest events ever seen in cross-country rallying. After 422km of against-the-clock action the top five drivers are covered by just over half-a-minute, while leaders Luc Alphand and Carlos Sainz share exactly the same total time!
An assertive run from Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret saw them claim the second day's 199km test. The performance has wiped out their first day deficit. Running sixth on the road, Stéphane Peterhansel was one of those drivers who was able to profit from a clearer line and he pushed that advantage home to secure the best time of the day, completed the distance almost two minutes clear of team-mate Roma who was second.
LEG 3: THE TERRAIN CHANGES
Following the first two stages, which took competitors into the mountains to the northeast of Lisbon, there was a distinct change in scenery for Friday's leg. It marked a shift to sandier, lower-lying terrain and, as expected, handed the advantage to Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart's principal rivals.
Mitsubishi's trio did more than just defend their corner, however, and Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret succeeded in moving up one place into second spot, while Luc Alphand/Gilles Picard continued to figure on the overnight podium. Joan 'Nani' Roma and Lucas Cruz were still fifth, with two days remaining. "We pushed as hard as we could and our reward is the fact that we have gained a place," commented Stéphane Peterhansel.
LEG 4: STEPHANE PETERHANSEL WINS
The fourth leg saw Mitsubishi's Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret claim the fastest time on the penultimate stage of the event to shave practically two minutes off the gap that separates them from the lead. With just one 65km stage remaining, the French crew are only 31 seconds behind Carlos Sainz.
Fellow Mitsubishi runners Luc Alphand/Gilles Picard profited from the day to go almost two minutes clear of Giniel De Villiers after sharing overnight third place with him. Unfortunately, Joan 'Nani' Roma/Lucas Cruz dropped nine minutes and slipped back one place to sixth overall following a slow-speed roll.
LEG 5: STEPHANE PETERHANSEL TAKES OVERALL VICTORY
Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret profited from the shortened final stage to clinch a dramatic win in Portimao, Portugal. The French crew were fastest on two six stages and stole victory from the grasp of former WRC champion Carlos Sainz by a margin of 16 seconds. After more than 10 hours of competitive driving through central and southern Portugal, Peterhansel trailed Sainz by just 31 seconds when going into the last stage. When the first half of this test was neutralised because of a nearby forest fire, it looked practically certain that the Peterhansel would have to settle for second place, but Sainz went on to make a mistake after the re-start and the Mitsubishi driver pounced on the opportunity to steal first place in a breathtaking finale!
