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| 7 October
2004 |
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2005 DAKAR RALLY
TEAM MITSUBISHI RALLIART CHINA WILL PARTICIPATE
With its proud 21 year record of participation in the Dakar Rally,
Mitsubishi Motors will support the Chinese team,
officially sanctioned by FASC, in the 2005 Dakar Rally!!
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(from left to right) Jean Pierre Fontenay, Men Guan Yuan,Li Chun Wei, vice-chairman of the FASC and director of the Chinese team and Hiromi Endo , General manager of Mitsubishi Motors Beijing Office.
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Team Mitsubishi Ralliart China ("the Chinese Team") will again participate in the 2005 Dakar Rally (officially known as the "2005 Telefonica Dakar Rally") with the support of Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (generally known as "Mitsubishi Motors"). The Chinese team enjoys the official sanction of the Federation of Automobile Sports of the People's Republic of China (FASC). The team's parent organization is Ralliart China, whose honorary team director is Jackie Chan. The 2005 Dakar will run from January 1, 2005 (Saturday) through 16 (Sunday) and start from Barcelona in Spain's Catalonia Province.
Men Guan Yuan, a young Chinese driver who has developed remarkably over the last few years, will be the team's driver in the 2005 Rally. The team will enter a Mitsubishi diesel (T2 rally spec vehicle) in the production modified (T2 Diesel 4WD) class. Building on its experience of successfully completing the 2004 Dakar, the Chinese team will aim to improve its placing over last year.
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Paris-Dakar winner Jean Pierre Fontenay has been designated to act as training adviser.
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Training adviser Jean Pierre Fontenay gives Men Guan Yuan some valuable
advice on driving technique.
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While this is Men Guan Yuan's first Dakar Rally, he will be supported by the experienced French navigator and co-driver Serge Henninot, who has participated in 12 previous Dakar Rallies. Henninot's appointment is recognition of his performance with the Chinese team in its Dakar challenge last year. Training aimed at improving Men Guan Yuan's driving skills and physical stamina has already started under the Mitsubishi Motors/Ralliart works team trainer. Work has begun on building a solid team to face the world's most grueling race.
Mitsubishi Motors/Ralliart will offer the following support to the Chinese team this year:
1. Provide the actual rally car and a test car for use in China
2. Provide Class C support in the race itself (technical services to teams entering privately)
3. Provide driver skill improvement training (skill improvement training, including participation in tests within China and elsewhere for the UAE Desert Challenge and English-language and physical training)
Following the meeting to announce the team's participation in the 2005 Dakar, it was quickly decided that the team would participate in the UAE Desert Challenge to be held from October 11 (Monday) through 15 (Friday). A decision was also taken to provide training with the Mitsubishi Motors works team members before and after this race. The UAE Desert Challenge is known as the prelude to the Dakar Rally. Racing under tough conditions resembling those of the Dakar will be a valuable opportunity for Men and the team members to gain practical experience, and the team is expected to move into one of the top places that will give them momentum for the Dakar race itself.
At the time the participation of the Chinese team was decided, Mr. Li Chun Wei, vice-chairman of the FASC and director of the Chinese team commented: "Carrying on from our successful completion of the previous Dakar race - our 2004 debut - this time I want not only to complete the race but to try to win a top placing. Doing well in the Dubai Desert Challenge - the prelude to the Dakar- is a must." World-famous movie star Jackie Chan, honorary team director, made the following encouraging remarks: "In recent years, Chinese have made outstanding achievements all over the world, and we expect the Chinese to write their names into the history of motorsports as well. I am sure this team has the ability to do that."
Mitsubishi Motors/Ralliart commented: "The spirit of challenge of this Chinese team and its attitude of taking on the world have come together, and this year Mitsubishi Motors will again support the team. The Dakar Rally is an excellent opportunity for China to show its mettle to the world and I hope the team will inspire and uplift the Chinese people through this race. Carrying on the overall team backup we have provided since last year, this time too, we hope to build a team that can make an ongoing contribution to the advance of Chinese motorsport through a range of activities."
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Chinese Team
| Honorary team director
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Mr. Jackie Chan (Ralliart China) |
| Team director |
Mr. Li Chun Wei (FASC) |
| Training advisor |
Mr. Jean Pierre Fontenay (MMSP) |
| Driver |
Mr. Guan Yuan Men |
| Navigator (co-driver) |
Mr. Serge HENNINOT |
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Driver profile
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Rally driver Men Guan Yuan of China
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Name: Men Guan Yuan
Birth: Sep.23, 1980
Country: China
Height: 168cm
Weight: 59kg
Inhabitancy: Beijing
Men Guan Yuan's comments:
The Paris-Dakar Rally is a race where the world's top
drivers compete comprehensively on intellectual tenacity, physical endurance,
and strength of will. The tough competitive spirit of taking oneself to the very
limits of endurance fascinates motorsports fans all over the world.
I myself am one of those attracted by this challenge. With the extensive support of Mitsubishi
Motors, I am now able to take part in the Paris-Dakar Rally and I am immensely
grateful. This is a great boon for my own career as a driver and I want to use
this experience to move into the ranks of the world's top drivers.
I am training hard to try and fulfil the expectations everyone places in me. I am fully focused
as I prepare for the race and give it everything I have to try to obtain a good
result.
Navigator/Co-driver profile
Name: Serge HENNINOT
Birth: Jan.4, 1967
Country: France
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 82 kg
Inhabitancy: Paris
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Vehicles racing in the Dakar Rally
The Mitsubishi Pajero Diesel (T2 rally spec vehicle) is a superb cross-country rally car that combines the knowhow accumulated by Mitsubishi Motors during 21 years of Paris-Dakar challenges with the achievements obtained by actually participating in the rally races. The Mitsubishi Pajero Diesel - the basic production vehicle - sells in large numbers all over the world and enjoys an enviable reputation among users.
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Vehicle specs:
| Dimention
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| Overall Length
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4,340 mm |
| Overall Width |
2,000 mm |
| Overall Height |
1,900 mm |
| Wheelbase |
2,788 mm |
| Track width |
1,940 mm |
| Seats capacity |
2 persons |
| Overall Length |
4,340 mm |
| Engine
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| Fuel System |
Diesel Turbo |
| Fuel capacity |
440 litre |
| Displacement |
3,200 cc |
| Maximum Output |
200 PS with 4,000 min. |
| Maximum Torque |
540 Nm/2,000 min. |
| Top Speed |
175 km/h (approx.) |
| Transmission
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| Gear |
5-speed Manual transmission |
| Drive Train |
Super Select 4WD |
| Suspension |
4 wheel independent
4 wheel twin shock absorber |
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MITSUBISHI MOTORS CHINA 2005 DAKAR RALLY WEB SITE
url: http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.cn/dakar/2005/index.htm
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