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Four « Racing Lancer » at Dakar 2009 To claim historic first win with diesel power Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and its motor sport unit, the Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team, in association with its partners Repsol, Valeo and BFGoodrich - will enter the new, turbodiesel 'Racing Lancer' in next year's Dakar Rally which will take competitors through Argentina and Chile from Saturday January 3 until Sunday January 18, 2009.

The Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team is poised to kick off its first full season using turbocharged diesel power with a four-car entry on the 2009 Dakar. The team's bid will be spearheaded by its latest cross-country rally car, the new Racing Lancer.

The four-car driver line-up is the same as that which has represented the team on this annual cross-country rally since 2005, namely Stephane Peterhansel (France), Hiroshi Masuoka (Japan), Luc Alphand (France), and Joan 'Nani' Roma (Spain).

The 31st Dakar Rally will see the event switch to fresh territory in South America where Mitsubishi's foursome will be looking to secure not only its first-ever victory with a diesel powered car, but also the company's 13th success - including a run of seven successive wins since 2001- at this event.

The Racing Lancer will be officially unveiled on Thursday October 2 at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (Paris Expo, Paris, France) which opens to the public from Saturday, October 4 until Sunday, October 19. It will be displayed alongside the 'Lancer Sportback' upon which it is based and which is due to go on sale across Europe this autumn.

The Dakar 2009
Following deterioration in the security situation in West Africa, which has traditionally served as backdrop to the Dakar, the event organisers have chosen to switch to the South American continent for next year's event.

The 2009 rally is due to start in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires on Saturday, January 3 before striking south to the South Atlantic resort of Puerto Madrine. The route will then head west over the dusty trails up and over the Andes Mountains.

Competitors will benefit from a rest day in the historic Chilean Pacific port of Valparaiso on Saturday January 10, with competition resuming the following day, taking them north to the Atacama Desert, then back across the Andes and into Argentina again. After a stopover in Argentina's second-biggest city, Cordoba, the 9,000km loop will end with the official finish in Buenos Aires on Sunday January 18.

Although precise details of the itinerary have yet to be released, the total stage distance is expected to amount to approximately 6,000km, with non-paved surfaces - including sand - accounting for 90 per cent of this figure.

The maximum number of entries has been set at 560, including 275 motorbikes and quads, 200 cars and 85 trucks.

© CAPSIS International