8th Patagonia-Atacama Rally
FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup, round 1
For immediate release
Friday, February 25th, 2005
MITSUBISHI MOTORS REPSOL ATS STUDIOS TEAM
ENTERS TWO CARS IN THE PATAGONIA-ATACAMA RALLY
Frenchman Peterhansel and Spain?s Roma to enter South American classic
TREBUR (Germany): The Mitsubishi Motors Repsol ATS Studios Team has entered two factory cars in the Patagonia-Atacama Rally, the first round of the FIA Cross-Country Rallies World Cup, which takes place in South America on March 5th-12th.
The Mitsubishi Motors team will run a pair of cars for the French Dakar Rally-winning duo of St?phane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret and Spaniard Joan ?Nani? Roma and his Andorra-based co-driver Henri Magne.
While Peterhansel and Cottret gave the team an historic fifth successive Dakar victory and a 10th in total, Roma joined the team in time to finish second overall in November?s Qatar Baja and went on to finish sixth overall in January?s Dakar Rally.
~We decided to enter two cars in the South American event, which is the first round of the new FIA World Cup,~ said MMSP?s Team Director Dominique Serieys. ~One car will be a Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution, but we have entered Joan Roma in a L200 Pick-Up bodyshell which is mainly based on Evolution technique, because Chile and Argentina are both important markets for this model.~
~After winning the Dakar Rally for the second year with the team, I am looking forward to this new South American challenge,~ said Peterhansel. ~I have heard a lot about this event and understand that we will cross some fabulous terrain and see some stunning scenery. The team have 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.~
~Motorsport is part of the integral make-up of Mitsubishi and is at the forefront of our marketing strategy,~ said IsaoTorii, President of MMSP. ~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.~
The event has undergone several radical revisions this year. The organizers have abandoned the traditional clover-leaf format for an event with several overnight halts and selective sections across some of the remotest and most scenic terrain in Argentina and Chile.
The event will start in the Argentine 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, competitors will arrive in the Chilean capital of Santiago, where the Mitsubishi Motors Team will tackle a timed Super Special stage.
The route will then head towards La Serena and continue to Copiap?, Antofagasta and on to a finish in San Pedro de Atacama on March 12th. There will be a total of 3,840 kms of roads in the south of Argentina and across Chile?s central and northern regions and 2,540 kms of competitive sections.
Both Peterhansel and Roma face competition from the factory Volkswagen Touaregs of Germany?s Jutta Kleinschmidt and Frenchman Bruno Saby, in addition to a host of rapid international privateers.
Ends