The commemorative 22nd event, which celebrated the new Millennium, was the first time that the event crossed the African continent, starting from Dakar (Senegal) - the familiar goal of the event over the years - and heading for Cairo.

The Mitsubishi entries numbered no less than 27 cars, of which five were Pajero/Montero s entered by Ralliart for Kenjiro Shinozuka, Hiroshi Masuoka, Jean-Pierre Fontenay, Jutta Kleinschmidt and Miguel Prieto, with one Mitsubishi Strada (Carlos Souza) aiming for the sixth overall win and a respective class win.

From the start and into the early stages, the Mitsubishi entries were on form, but heading into Libya and the fast flat stages, the nature of the terrain did not suit the Pajero/Montero , which excelled on the more technical stages. The lighter and quicker Schlesser Buggy and other T3s (Prototype class) suited the route, which forced the Mitsubishi cars in the T2 class (modified production class) to struggle.

Hoping for comeback accidents was inevitable. The four cars of Shinozuka, Prieto, Gregoire de Mevius (Nissan Terrano) and Sousa all crashed one after another at the same spot over a steep dune. All eight drivers and co-drivers received medical attention.

Across the stages in Egypt the terrain changed once again and suited the Mitsubishis much better. The twistier route, sand dunes, rocky sections as well as other mixed conditions were prevalent and Fontenay and Masuoka took fastest stage times in two days. In mixed conditions, where the overall car performance is required, the Pajero/Montero was able to show its fundamental prowess.

In the initial itinerary a rest had been planned after the eighth leg in Agadez (Nigers). However, unprecedented accidents brought the Dakar Rally organisers to change their routings at the last minute. The organising TSO (Thierry Sabine Organisation) operation had received warnings of terrorist attacks and competition in Niger was cancelled. As a result, the first half of the event was closed after the sixth leg and competition once again began in Libya. This was a most unusual development..

The highest Mitsubishi entry was now third with Fontenay and Kleinschmidt (the first lady driver to take the podium last year) recovering to earn fifth with a late charge after a puncture in the early stages. Masuoka held sixth as the caravan reached Cairo.

It was compensation for Shinozuka's retirement, although overall victory fell to the Schlesser Buggy in the T3 (prototype) class. Jean-Loius Schlesser used the vehicle's regulation lightweight spaceframe to the full to record a second straight overall win. Second overall was Stephane Peterhansel in the Mega Desert, the car using technology from the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Prototype days.

The T1 class (non-modified production model) saw the Brazilian K. Kolberg finish second, the highest placing for a Mitsubishi entry. While a class win eluded him it was his second straight commendable second-in-class finish. In this year's event where high-speed stages were prominent in comparison with previous years, he was fastest in class in over half of the stages, showing the high overall performance of the car. With the postponement of some stages, the finish ratio for four-wheel vehicles was relatively high at 67%. Of Mitsubishi's 27 entries, 20 finished for a record and this accounted for 74% of their entry. Once again it proved the car's reliability.

FINAL CLASSIFICATION