The Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team has concluded its final test sessions and its preparations for the Dakar 2008 in Le Creusot central France after a few weeks of intense physical workouts driving tests, competition and of course living and working together as a team.
Yesterday Monday, after all this frenetic activity, Nani Roma, Stéphane Peterhansel, Luc Alphand, Hiroshi Masuoka and their respective co-drivers were to be found in Le Creusot, doing the final official tests with the four Mitsubishi Montero Evolution cars that the Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team will fight to win their eighth consecutive victory in.
The Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart cars went to a private track in Le Creusot, 120km. from the city of Lyon to test in severe weather, thick fog and with temperatures that never went over 5ºC, to put the finishing touches to the cars before they are taken to Lisbon. This track provided a wide range of possible layouts, with jumps and all sorts of curves so that the necessary tests could be carried out.These tests consisted of each driver covering between 15km – 50km. at the wheel of their respective MPR13 Evolution.
During the tests the machanics checked several components on the clutch and the suspension geometry, as well as the operation of the engines which up to now had only been used on the test bench at the Mitsubishi MMSP headquarters, in Pont de Vaux 400km. from Paris. The tests ended satisfactorily and the four Mitsubishi in the Repsol colours are now ready to start the Dakar 2008.The Rally Dakar 2008 will start from the Portuguese capital Lisbon for the third consecutive year on Saturday 5th January.
The technical and sports inspection will be made in Lisbon on 2nd, 3rd & 4th January before the participating cars, motorbikes and trucks head south across Portugal towards Africa. The event will finish in Dakar, Senegal, on Sunday 20th January.
