Mitsubishi Team carried out final shakedown.

The Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart have completed their preparations for the seventh successive defence of the Dakar Rally title, after a hectic 10 days of physical training, team bonding, light-hearted motorsport competition and testing in France. After completing a four-day physical training and team bonding session at Douarnenez in Brittany last week, team drivers Stéphane Peterhansel and Joan ‘Nani’ Roma took part in the prestigious 2006 Race of Champions at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, December 16th, while team mates Luc Alphand and Hiroshi Masuoka took part in the Trophy Luc Alphand at Serre Chevalier in French Alpes. After these activities, the team members met yesterday in Le Creusot, in the centre of France to carry out the final official shakedown test on the four Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolutions.

Hiroshi Masouka was positive about the shakedown: "I have a good feeling about the new car and was pleased with the shakedown," said Masuoka, winner of the Dakar Rally in 2002 and 2003. "The ice racing we had this weekend in Serre Chevalier together with my team mate Luc Alphand was great fun and a good promotional exercise. Now I will go back to Japan and spend time with my family, before returning to Portugal for the start of the Dakar after New Year."

Team mate Luc Alphand admitted that he has been inundated with media and promotional work since winning the UAE Desert Challenge in November. "It has been really crazy, very busy since the rally in Dubai. As regards the new car, I have a great feeling with it and drove only about 40km at Le Creusot on Monday. I drove quite slowly, just to check a few minor points. After a media training day at Pont-de-Vaux I will go back to Serre-Chevalier and spend Christmas and New Year with the family. Hopefully I will be able to switch off the ‘phone for a few days and relax, maybe take part in a little cross-country training to keep myself in trim."

For Stéphane Peterhansel, after these last very intense weeks, time has come to get one’s strength back with family and friends and get ready for the new challenge. "Now I will spend a quiet Christmas and New Year with my family and friends. It has been 18 years since I was in a position to do this. Before Mitsubishi, I worked for the Yamaha team and we were always involved in the Dakar and preparations for the event. It will be nice to relax and get myself ready for the next Dakar."

Team mate Nani Roma is also thinking about being with his family and friends during the holidays after the preparation activities for the 2007 Dakar. "Now I will go and relax with family and friends and spend a nice Christmas and New Year with them. It has been 11 years since I was last able to celebrate the end of the year party with the family. I will carry out a little light training, but just relax and prepare for the Dakar."

There was no respite in the hectic pre-Christmas, final preparations for the Dakar Rally. All four drivers and Dakar-specification cars were present at the Le Creusot test on Monday. According to MMSP’s Technical Director Thierry Viardot, "each of the drivers had between 15km and 50km behind the wheel of their respective Dakar MPR13 cars and technicians checked various suspension geometry and clutch components. "Everything went well and perfectly according to plan. We made some tests with suspension geometry on Stéphane’s car and checks with new and spare clutches to make sure they were bedded in, but everything was fine. Now we can focus on the Dakar."

MMSP’s Team President Isao Torii has also played an integral part in the pre-Dakar preparations: "I took part in the physical training for two days. Then I attended the Race of Champions in Paris and also the shakedown test on Monday," said Torii. "Everything was fine with the test and the last days were chances for me to see the great spirit, motivation and preparation that this team has put into preparing for the Dakar Rally. I also spent time with the mechanics at the workshops in Pont-de-Vaux and have seen the preparation of the logistics team and the mechanics in France. Everything has gone according to plan and I am very proud of the whole team. Now we are ready, focused and looking forward to Lisbon."

Managing and Sporting Director Dominique Serieys is upbeat about the team’s preparations after another hectic and diverse week of activities for the MMSP team. "Everyone is very positive, focused and working well as a team unit. We have had many events recently to bring the team together. We will spend the next few days making sure the cars are completely ready and then the whole team will be able to enjoy a deserved break over Christmas before the Dakar."