SO, WILL SOMEBODY BEAT THE MITSU MEN THIS TIME?

Who can perhaps beat the Mitsubishi 4X4’s on the Dakar? The question has been posed each year as New Year’s Eve approaches and systematically for the past six years the red cars answer categorically on the terrain: nobody.

Not even when their lead driver, Stéphane Peterhansel, experienced misadventure in the late stages of the rally when he was leading the overall standings (2003 and 2006) and team mate Luc Alphand was left to defend the brand. And go on to win his first Dakar in his eighth race.

The former skier, who has made an extraordinary re-conversion, is now a legitimate candidate to repeat, as are fellow Mitsu men Peterhansel, Masuoka and Roma, all previous winners.

Despite the Japanese brand’s presentation of an improved version of the Pajero, the MPR13, the competition seems to be closing the gap to the point of becoming a threat to the pre-race favourites. At VW the Race Touareg, in search of reliability, has come closer each year, so much so that it has a more credible chance to win.

South African Giniel de Villiers, runner-up to Alphand in 2006, has continued to make steady progress and WRC legend Carlos Sainz got off to a flying start with four stage wins when his claimed main objective was "only to learn".

VW has a new driver for 2007; Ari Vatanen also wants to return to his glory days. He will be attempting to retake the record of stage wins that “Peter” broke in the previous event.

The BMW X-Raid team has also come on strong over the past three years. Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah, who has already demonstrated his competitiveness, just needs to add consistency, and World extreme skiing champion Guerlain Chicherti, ninth on the 2006 Dakar and winner of the rally’s final stage, will be looking for a top five result.

Team boss Sven Quandt will especially be counting on the services of Jutta Kleinschmidt who has added all her vast experience to the development of the X3.

Then there's Jean-Louis Schlesser, who beat Mitsubishi in 1999 and 2000. He will enter only one blue buggy this year.

"But I have never been as fast as when I ran alone," he warned.

Motorcycle entries are now closed for 2007. Back in June, 2006 330 complete entries were received within days of the lists opening but the limit has remained at 240 for the start in Lisbon on January 6.