Mitsubishi ready to tackle the 1st edition on Central Europe Rally

DAKAR SERIES 2008
CENTRAL EUROPE RALLY
20-26 APRIL 2008
PREVIEW

REPSOL MITSUBISHI RALLIART READY FOR EXCITING NEW CHALLENGE WITH DIESEL POWER IN 2008

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution MPR14

Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart is pleased to announce the cross-country rally debut of the new, diesel-powered version of the Pajero/Montero Evolution, code-named MPR14.

The team has also taken significant measures to make its competition programme even more environmentally aware thanks to the introduction of a range of Mitsubishi Technology initiatives involving close collaboration with its partners Repsol, Valeo and BFGoodrich.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and its motor sports unit MMSP have established the team's objectives for the coming season, as well as for the 2009 ‘Dakar’, which breaks new ground with a start, and finish in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a rest-day in Valparaiso on Chile's Pacific coast.

Meanwhile, the major new feature of the team's 2008 programme is the introduction of a turbo-diesel version of the highly successful Pajero/Montero Evolution, cross-country rallying's most successful car with a record 12 Dakar wins to its name since 1985. The new 2,997cc V6 powerplant benefits from Mitsubishi's longstanding expertise in the field of advanced diesel technologies, ranging from low compression ratios to high-pressure fuel injection. Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart has also decided to take a lead by enhancing its environmentally responsible approach to its competition activities in association with its key partners, Repsol, Valeo and BFGoodrich, all of whom stand out as pioneers in their specific domains when it comes to protecting the planet. "Now, our motor sports activity has taken a step up to establish the environmentally-friendly engineering strategy of Mitsubishi Motors" underlines MMSP SAS's new president, Osamu Nakayama.

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution MPR14

Repsol sees the arrival of diesel power for the Pajero/Montero Evolution MPR14 as an ideal opportunity to bring its latest research developments into efficient fuels in general and non-food sourced biodiesel in particular to the table. Indeed, the Spanish-based oil and gas firm's efforts in this field contributed to its recent nomination as a 'Gold Class' company in the Sustainability Yearbook 2008 compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Sustainable Asset Management (SAM), an independent company tasked with conducting the annual assessments for the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

And the Michelin Group – which owns the BFGoodrich brand – has always stressed that the transfer of technology between its motor sports activities and road tires is by no means unilateral, and cites its ongoing research into low rolling resistance as one area in which production tires have benefited the competition programmes of partners such as Mitsubishi. The 1990s saw the Michelin Group take a valuable lead in this domain with the launch of the first green car and truck tire range which has gone on to see the advent of products such as the current award-winning Michelin Energy Saver tire.

MPR14 Crew for 08 CER: Hiroshi Masouka and Pascal Maimon

Last but by no means least, Valeo's long experience of automotive systems and electronics proved invaluable during the development of the new diesel-powered Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution MPR14. Its contribution essentially concerned the specific cooling system using the UltimateCooling™ architecture. Valeo's input also concerns the advanced low energy LED front and rear lighting systems used on the car and which further contribute to achieving appreciable fuel savings.

Volkswagen will field five Race Touareg vehicles in the Central Europe Rally

Volkswagen will field five Race Touareg vehicles in the Central Europe Rally leading through Hungary and Romania from 20 to 26 April.

In addition, Volkswagen in the 2008 season will enter two factory vehicles in the cross-country "Rallye dos Sertoes” in Brazil from 18 to 28 June and intensively prepare for the 2009 Dakar Rally to be run through Argentina and Chile for the first time from 03 to 18 January.

"The Central Europe Rally represents a new challenge in cross-country rally sport, and we look forward to this challenge. We will field four factory vehicles and enter a fifth Race Touareg for the customer team Lagos,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. "After the cancellation of the ‘Dakar’ in January our team is extremely motivated to show our strong performance capabilities. The new rally gives us an interesting and demanding platform for this.” After starting in Budapest on 20 April, the rally will be run over a 3,000-kilometre distance through Hungary and Romania and will end at Lake Balaton on 26 April.
Preparation for ASO rally with tests in Hungary

Volkswagen will field the five Race Touareg 2 vehicles originally planned for the 30th running of the Dakar Rally that was cancelled at short notice due to terrorist threat warnings. The four-wheel-drive prototypes powered by 280-hp TDI diesel engines will be driven by the 2007 cross-country world cup winners Carlos Sainz/Michel Périn (Spain/France) as well as by Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (South Africa/Germany), Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/South Africa) and by Dieter Depping/Timo Gottschalk (Germany/Germany). The cockpit of the Lagos Touareg will be occupied by Carlos Sousa/Andreas Schulz (Portugal/Germany). The preparations for the Central Europe Rally will include tests in Hungary.

The Central Europe Rally will be organised by the ASO, the French organiser of the Dakar Rally. With regard to organisation, safety/security and marketing, the new ASO rally in Hungary and Romania is to be on a par with the standards of the Dakar Rally. Kris Nissen: "We welcome the decision of the ASO to offer the Central Europe Rally as another opportunity to engage in top-calibre cross-country rally sport in addition to the highlight of the season, the traditional Dakar Rally.”

Mitsubishi set to race in the first ever Central Europe Rally

Monday, 10 March 2008

MITSUBISHI SET TO ENTER EUROPEAN RALLY MOTORSPORT

* Mitsubishi prepares to dominate performance rallying in Central Europe and South America.
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have announced today that Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart will be entering the Central Europe Rally.

The Mitsubishi team who have proven to be dominant on the Dakar series over the last few years, have been given the opportunity to conquer Central Europe as well as currently holding the prestigious Dakar title (2007).

The driver line-up will feature Luc Alphand / Gilles Picard (France), Hiroshi Masuoka / Pascal Maimon (Japan / France), Stéphane Peterhansel / Jean-Paul Cottret (France) and Joan Nani Roma / Lucas Cruz (Spain), who had all been entered to compete in the 2008 Dakar.
The Central Europe Rally is due to start in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday April 20, and its program includes seven competitive sections in Hungary and Romania before the finish beside Lake Balaton on Saturday April 26. The Central European Rally is under half the distance covered of the Dakar Rally, with only 1,570km of against the clock action.

Read more about the Central Europe Rally

Dakar Series Part 1: Central Europe Rally

The Central Europe Rally: First rally of the A.S.O. "Dakar Series "

Budapest (HUNGARY)-Amaury Sport Organisation announces the creation of the Central Europe Rally. This new rally organised under the " Dakar Series " certification will take place from April 20th to the 26th in Hungary and Romania. Scrutineering and administrative checks will take place on 19th of April in Budapest.

The 2008 Central Europe Rally course

The Central Europe Rally, between Budapest and Lake Balaton in Hungary, crossing Romania, will consist of an extremely varied and technical route. Nearly half of the total distance, 3000kms, will be run in special stages. The opening of entries is planned on 11th of February. A.S.O has already received the support of all the major teams. BMW, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Schlesser and KTM have already shown a great interest for this new event, image of the development that A.S.O. wishes to bring to the sport.

The Central Europe Rally will be the first event to be run under the "Dakar Series" certification. This certification will be given to other races that offer the same high organisation and safety standards, strong participation and media attention as the legendary Dakar. With the Central Europe Rally (*), the aim of A.S.O. is to enable the competitors of the Dakar, which was cancelled on 2008, to enter a new rally with some extremely advantageous conditions and offer their sponsors exposure in a major international event.

The "Dakar Series", which was planned to start in 2009, is a project that A.S.O. has been working on for a long time. It will begin one year ahead of schedule. This first Central Europe Rally is a milestone of a series of new events intended to expand besides the Dakar Rally. The 2009 Dakar edition will be announced in the weeks to come.

-ASO