By 1988 the Mitsubishi Pajero was already established as a top level machine in all classes of cross country rallying, especially in the most challenging T1 class where the virtually standard version of the world-beater was completely dominant. The 13,000 km 10th Paris - Algiers - Dakar was again planned as a gruelling car and spirit-breaker through the Sahara on on to Western Africa through the Savannah and bush. The three top drivers employed to head the Mitsubishi challenge in the 10th running of the classic were "Marathon Man" Andrew Cowan, Japanese star Kenjiro Shinozuka, and top flight French contender Pierre Lartigue. The three were entered by Sonauto Mitsubishi in a trio of Pajero prototypes, Cowan and Lartigue's sponsored by Nikon, with Shinozuka carrying the Citizen name, two important partners in Mitsubishi's competition history. The pressure ultimately fell upon Shinozuka after both Lartigue and Cowan retired uncharacteristically early in the event. It was the toughest and most professionally-run event ever, and the most competitive. The battle was fierce, but Shinozuka was closing rapidly on rally leader Juha Kankkunen Peugeot when unfortunately, the last long stage of the event, through the Mauritanian desert, was cancelled robbing the Japanese Mitsubishi driver of his chance for victory. Nevertheless, second place overall, out of 597 starters, was a personal triumph for Kenjiro after such a tough rally, and Mitsubishi could celebrate another superb result, along with first place in the modified production class for French driver Belveze.

1988 Paris - Alger - Dakar Rally

Pos.	Car No.	Driver	Manufacture	Total Time
1.	205	KANKKUNEN/PII	Peugeot	42:39'33
2.	215	SHINOZUKA/MAG	MITSUBISHI/PAJERO	2:51'44
3.	208	TAMBAY/LEMOYN	Range	5:3'16
4.	211	SMITH/FIEUW	Range	5:52"9
5.	301	MILLER/SIEGEN	Range	7:1'55
6.	207	AMBROSINO/GUE	Peugeo	7:44'1
7.	471	RATET/VANTOUR	Toyota	8:55'54
8.	242	TIJSTERMAN/TI	MITSUBISHI/PAJERO	9:53'23
9.	247	DELADRIERE/BE	Proto	10:40'59
10.	513	RIVIERE/HERVE	Toyota	10:43'11