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Mercedes Wins Dakar

Dakar Press Release: Sixteenth overall, Frenchman Jean-Pierre Strugo (Mercedes - n.220) dominated from start to finish the T1 category. He finishes ahead of Ratet and Belmondo.

Okay, so they didn't win overall...that honor belongs to a KTM motorcycle. And they didn't win in the "car" catagory, either. That honor is with Mitsubishi.

BUT, a Mercedes ML430 driven by frenchmen Jean-Pierre Strugo and Pascal Larroque did finish 1st in the T1 Marathon Class of petrol-engined production cross-country cars. Their final position was a fantastic 16th overall...no other production class car, gas or diesel, was in higher standing.

Unimog #402, driven by Corrado Pattono and Enrico Santoro of Italy, was 8th overall in the 4x4 production truck class.

FWIW, a BMW X5 entered in Super Production (heavily modified) class managed a first-ever stage win for a diesel powered vehicle. Also pretty fantastic.

Thank you for the report. Here's Jean-Pierre Strugo taking a dune:

http://raid.racing-live.com/photos/2.../diapo_229.jpg

Some more pics:

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/dakar_2003_2.html

Wolfgang

What Unimog beat out a G wagen?

Wow the ML has become awesome.
Hats off to MB on continuous improvement.
Now if they would only bring in the Diesel version :D