| Once again in 1984, the Paris - Algiers - Dakar presented yet another
magnificent challenge, this time with over 11,000 km of the most arduous driving
terrain to be found in the world. The compact, nimble and durable Mitsubishi
Pajero, prepared and entered by French preparation concern Sonauto, was entered
in production-modified class this time, with minimal modifications to its engine
and suspension, for 'Marathon Man' Andrew Cowan. Although at two years old one
of the youngest types of vehicle to be entered in the event, it was chosen by no
less than 11 competing crews who had been impressed by its debut the season
before. From the Place de la Concorde in Paris, the teams of Mitsubishi Pajeros set out with high hopes, from Europe, crossing
the Mediterranean to Africa before blasting through Algeria and on to Nigeria
with a long haul through the depths of the Sahara desert. The infamous Tenere
desert, on the eastern side of the Sahara, would play a big part in the outcome,
famed for its ferocious sand storms and a myriad of natural hazards. Amazingly,
Cowan was never troubled by his Pajero. The legendary reliability of Mitsubishi
had transferred well to the Pajero, and despite its youth as a motor vehicle, it
had little trouble in coping with the world's most terrifying motoring
conditions. Even against highly modified, specially prepared desert racing
machines, the slightly modified Pajero held its own. A clear winner in its
class, Cowan drove the Mitsubishi Pajero home in third place overall, beating
many of the specialist sports machines such as Jacky Ickx's Porsche. It was
another great moment for Cowan and his Mitsubishi Pajero, which was by now
gaining a reputation as one of the greatest all-terrain machines in cross
country raids in only its second year of competition.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION
1984 Paris - Alger - Dakar Rally
| Pos. |
Car No. |
Driver |
Manufacture |
Total Time |
| 1. |
176 |
METGE/LEMOYNE |
PORSCHE/911 |
16.58.55 |
| 2. |
184 |
ZANIROLI/DA SILVA |
RANGE ROVER |
02.18.21 |
| 3. |
191 |
COWAN/SYER |
MITSUBISHI/PAJERO |
03.28.09 |
| 4. |
153 |
COLSOUL/LOPES |
OFEL MANTA 400 |
04.50.46 |
| 5. |
185 |
MARREAU/MARREAU |
PROTO FACOM/4X4 |
05.32.49 |
| 6. |
175 |
ICKX/BRASSEUR |
PORSCHE/911 |
05.57.10 |
| 7. |
192 |
RIGAL/FOURTICO |
MITSUBISHI/PAJERO |
08.03.06 |
| 8. |
151 |
LACAZE/BCUILLE |
CITROEN/VISA |
10.24.01 |
| 9. |
228 |
PLANSON/PLANSON |
MERCEDES/250 GE |
11.27.37 |
| 10. |
200 |
FOUGEROUSE/BRAQUET |
TOYOTA/FJ 60 |
13.18.07 |
|