Mitsubishi Motors Notes From the Tecate SCORE Baja 2000
16 November 2000
Mitsubishi Motors Notes From the Tecate SCORE Baja 2000
CYPRESS, Calif., Nov. 14 As the Tecate SCORE Baja 2000
presented by Autozone race marches on, the No. 304 Mitsubishi Montero Sport of
Hiroshi Masuoka, John Holmes, Ryan Thomas and Scot Jones crossed checkpoint
nine at the towns of La Purisima and San Isidro, Mexico at 6:32 p.m. Monday
evening. The checkpoint was documented in 33 hours and 41 minutes into the
race and the Mitsubishi team was positioned sixth in class. At that
checkpoint, the Mitsubishi team had covered 996.43 miles of the 1720-mile Baja
2000 off-road endurance classic. The checkpoint times reflect a consistent
pace for the factory-sponsored Mitsubishi team.
"Mitsubishi Motors is very energized about participating in this year's
Baja 2000 race," said Pierre Gagnon, executive vice president and chief
operating officer, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America. "This is a wonderful
opportunity for Mitsubishi to show North America and the entire off-road world
the durability of the Montero Sport."
The bright red and white SCORE 3i Class (International Class 3) Mitsubishi
Montero Sport left the Ensenada starting line just after 10:00 a.m. Sunday
morning, on its way in a desert odyssey expected to take over two days and
nights to complete. Along with Masuoka, Holmes, Thomas and Jones are
co-drivers Pascal Maimont, Matt Hutchins, Kevin Mahan and Sue Mead.
The No. 304 Mitsubishi Montero Sport made the first checkpoint in Uruapan,
Mexico in 14 hours and 28 minutes. The second checkpoint in San Quintin was
unable to call in SCORE reports, so no time was recorded there. Santa Ines
was third checkpoint with Masuoka and co-drivers checking in at 18 hours and
19 minutes, covering 407.37 miles. The fourth checkpoint was on Santa
Rosalillita Road near Rosarito. Mexico, where the Class 3l Mitsubishi team
covered 527.59 miles in 22 hours and five minutes. The Bahia de Los Angeles
checkpoint five was achieved in 24 hours flat, with a total of 606 miles.
Checkpoint six at the Military North/South Border Checkpoint in Guerrero
Negro, at the 742.49 mile marker of the SCORE-sanctioned race, the Mitsubishi
team crossed in 26 hours and 34 minutes. Checkpoint seven is a driver change
checkpoint at the La Pinta Hotel in San Ignacio, Mexico, and the halfway point
of the race at 864.50 miles. The Mitsubishi Montero Sport team reached this
checkpoint in 29 hours and 17 minutes, and were running sixth in class in
International Class 3.
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.