PARIS-TUNIS-DAKAR 1989
In the constant search for new challenges, the 11th "Dakar" changed its format
with a route that would take the 472 entrants in this motor sport epic through
Libya for the first time. Any thought of a less than warm welcome from the local
people was soon dissipated with generous hospitality, but that's more than could
be said for the savage and treacherous Libyan desert. Once again a broad range
of Mitsubishis were entered for the event, from the hi-tech Prototypes driven by
former Formula One star Patrick Tambay to an amazing PX-33 replica. The works
Sonauto-Mitsubishi team was the largest manufacturers' team ever, with seven vehicles including the PX-33, the rest
being Pajeros. Team Sonauto Mitsubishi Nikon had Lartigue, Cowan and Da Silva,
while the Citizen-backed vehicles had Tambay, Shinozuka and Fontenay. The PX-33,
a replica of the first ever Japanese four-wheel-drive vehicle, was driven by
Jaussaud. The 11,000km even started earlier than usual, on Christmas Day, to
avoid clashing with the Monte Carlo Rally. It was a story of high drama and what
was soon to become motoring legend, as at first the Mitsubishis suffered from
the low grade of fuel available. By the half way point ad Agadez, Tambay had
battled his way to third overall, while Lartigue's high performance engine had
had enough of the poor fuel quality and retired.\ Tambay held on to third until
the finish, while Shinozuka became a hero with a dramatic fight back from 19th
after his fuel problems to an amazing sixth, beating everybody through Guinea on
the way. Mitsubishi debuted its new V6 Pajero engine on the event in the
Modified Production class, and the Marreau brothers took it to a fine class
victory. Five Mitsubishis filled the top ten places with third, fifth, sixth and
seventh. And the PX-33? It survived to finish a creditable 31st overall.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION
1989 Paris - Tunis - Dakar Rally
| Pos. |
Car No. |
Driver |
Manufacture |
Total Time |
| 1. |
204 |
VATANEN/BER |
Peugeot |
026:04'47 |
| 2. |
206 |
ICKX/TARIN |
Peugeot |
00:01'44 |
| 3. |
211 |
TAMBAY/LEMO |
MITSUBISHI/PAJERO |
03:53'10 |
| 4. |
205 |
FREQUELIN/F |
Peugeot |
05:41'28 |
| 5. |
228 |
TIJSTERMAN/ |
MITSUBISHI/PAJERO |
06:30'11 |
| 6. |
212 |
SHINOZUKA/M |
MITSUBISHI/PAJERO |
07:01'31 |
| 7. |
213 |
FONTENAY/MU |
MITSUBISHI/PAJERO |
08:25'42 |
| 8. |
207 |
WAMBERGUE/G |
Peugeot |
09:01'44 |
| 9. |
235 |
SEPPI/PELAN |
Merced |
11:00'16 |
| 10. |
210 |
DA SILVA/TH |
MITSUBISHI/PAJERO |
13:02'32 |
|
N° 161
|
Pilote
|
Andrew Cowan
|
GB
|
Classée 11
au général
|
Classée 1
en Marathon
|
|
Co-Pilote
|
Colin Malkin
|
GB
|
|
N° 162
|
Pilote
|
Georges Debussy
|
FR
|
Classée 14
au général
|
Classée 2
en Marathon
|
|
Co-Pilote
|
Jacques Delaval
|
FR
|
|
N° 217
|
Pilote
|
Tony Fowke
|
GB
|
Abandon
|
Abandon
|
|
Co-Pilote
|
Pierre Saint-Jean
|
FR
|
|
N° 218
|
Pilote
|
Bernard Maingret
|
FR
|
Classée 30
au général
|
Classée 5
en Marathon
|
|
Co-Pilote
|
Louis Blin
|
FR
|
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