FLASHBACK OF THE 2006 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
Total Distance: 9,043 km (4,813 km of special stages and 4,230 km of liaison).
Luc Alphand and his co-driver Gilles Picard won the 2006 Dakar, beating out second place finisher Giniel de Villiers (VW Touareg) by 17 min. and 53 sec., after a grueling two-week race covering over 9,000 km through seven countries.
Mitsubishi team mates Joan “Nani” Roma and Stéphane Peterhansel (2005 Dakar winner) finished third and fourth overall.
This was Alphand’s first Dakar Rally win, after coming in second in 2005, and it gave the Mitsubishi Motor Sports team its sixth straight victory since 2000.
“My first attempt at the Dakar Rally ended with a seat in a helicopter and I never wanted to be in that position again," said Alphand. "I knew I had a great chance to win. The team worked so hard on the development of our car and I think over the 15 days we were the better all-round team. It’s a fantastic feeling to win the Dakar!".
Total Distance: 4,885 km (3,033 km of special stages and 1,852 km of liaison).
Victory for Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard in the Patagonia-Atacama Rally, which took place from March 7-16, 2006 in South America. It was a total success for the Mitsubishi Motors Team, as their second car, with Nani Roma and Henri Magne, finished second, more than six hours ahead of the closest competitor.
Total Distance: 2,274 km (2,042 km of special stages and 232 km of liaison).
Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret of the Mitsubishi Motors Team won the Optic 2000 Tunisia Rally in early April. The event was less successful for the Luc Alphand-Gilles Picard team; they were forced to abandon following a series of rollovers which caused no injuries but prevented the vehicle from continuing the next day. Hiroshi Masuoka and Pascal Maimon came in 28th due to a variety of misadventures.
Total Distance: 2,076 km (1,173 km of special stages and 902 km of liaison).
The Vodafone Transiberico Rally ended with a second place finish for Nani Roma and Henri Magne, following a thrilling dual with Giniel de Villiers (Volkswagen). Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard took third place. The Transiberico Rally is a four-day baja-style event which takes place in May of each year in Portugal, with a stage in Spain. Covering a lesser distance (only 2,000 km), bajas are held on slightly sandy tracks where driving skills are particularly showcased.
Total distance: 2,411. 9 km (1,472. 9 km of special stages and 939 km of liaison).
Withdrawal of the Mitsubishi Motors Team due to the tragic accident during the race in May which costs the life of the team’s co-driver and friend, Henri Magne, at the age of 53.
Total Distance: 2,275. 9 km (1,474. 2 km of special stages and 801. 7 km of liaison).
Defending champions Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard closed the cross-country rally season by winning this last event, which takes place annually in mid-November in Dubai. The French duo Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret came in second, driving the new MPR 13 in its maiden race. Hiroshi Masuoka and Pascal Maimon finished seventh, following a series of minor technical problems.
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