Mitsubishi Motors Once Again Dominates Paris-Dakar And Monte Carlo Rallies With First Place Victories

  Mitsubishi Motors Also Brings Rally Racing Excitement to the United States
        With Continued Sponsorship of Driver Rhys Millen and the SCCA

    CHICAGO, Feb. 7 Mitsubishi Motors again captured world
attention with victories last month at two globally renowned motorsports
races: the Paris-Dakar desert rally and the FIA World Rally Championship race
in Monte Carlo.  Mitsubishi drivers placed first overall in both events.  This
also marks the third win for Mitsubishi at the Monte Carlo Rally and a fifth
overall win in the past 10 years at Paris-Dakar.  Mitsubishi enjoys a long
motorsports history in exotic and remote terrain around the world, and again
in 2001 will bring this excitement to American fans with its support of rally
racing in the United States.
    Mitsubishi driver Jutta Kleinschmidt and co-driver Andreas Schulz won the
Paris-Dakar Rally in their race-prepared Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero, finishing
with an overall time of 70 hours, 42 minutes and 6 seconds.  Kleinschmidt also
is the first woman to win this annual race through the desert of Africa.  The
21-day, 6,200 mile race began in Paris, France on January 1, 2001 and
concluded in Dakar in the west African nation of Senegal on January 21.
Mitsubishi driver Hiroshi Masuoka and co-driver Pascal Maimon finished a close
second place in their Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution.  In addition to
Kleinschmidt and Masuoka's 1st and 2nd place finishes, Mitsubishi vehicles
also placed 5th and 6th positions.
    Back in Europe, Mitsubishi driver Tommi Makinen and co-driver Risto
Mannisenmaki finished first in the Monte Carlo Rally in their Mitsubishi
Lancer Evolution 6.5.  After this first race of the 2001 FIA World Rally
Championship, Makinen and Mitsubishi now lead both the season points total for
drivers and manufacturers.  Makinen is also only the third driver in the
event's 69-year history to win the race three times.
    Despite the snow and icy conditions during the three days of grueling
competition, thousands of rally fans turned out to watch the world-class
action over the narrow and treacherous French mountain roads to the northwest
of the tiny principality of Monaco.  After competitors from Subaru and Ford
failed to finish the race due to mechanical difficulties, Makinen won the race
in 4 hours, 38 minutes and 4.3 seconds.
    "We're proud to be part of the incredible success Mitsubishi Motors has
achieved in motorsports around the world," said Pierre Gagnon, executive vice
president and chief operating officer of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America.
"We hope to bring home some of this excitement to rally fans in the United
States through our continued support of rally racing, sponsorship of Rhys
Millen and our Monetary Contingency Prize Program through the SCCA."
    After the successful 2000 American rally season, Mitsubishi Motors
announces its sponsorship of rally driver Rhys Millen in 2001.  After
conquering the Pikes Peak Hill Climb last July with a first place finish in
his class, Millen went on to victory in December 2000 at the Ramada Express
Hotel Casino International Rally in Laughlin, Nevada.  Driving his Mitsubishi
Lancer Evolution 6.5 rally car, Millen placed first overall and crossed the
finish line more than ten minutes before the second place driver.  In addition
to this years Pikes Peak, Millen will compete under the Triple Diamond flag in
several SCCA ProRally races around the United States.
    Mitsubishi Motors will also support the SCCA through a Monetary
Contingency Prize Program to reward rally drivers who choose to run Mitsubishi
products.  A cash prize will be awarded to drivers who finish in the top three
while driving current or previous generation Mitsubishi products.  This prize
demonstrates Mitsubishi Motors' appreciation and commitment towards loyal
rally racers.

    Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. was established in 1982 by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of vehicles,
including coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles.  Its
website can be accessed at http://www.mitsubishicars.com.