Historic Double Win for Mitsubishi

To his further credit, Geoff also won the inaugural title of National Class Champion, awarded to the driver who accumulated the highest number of class points during the year, regardless of category (buggy, Baja or tintop).

This long-awaited Mitsubishi victory was sealed last weekend after the Goondiwindi 400 - fourth and final round of the 2001 championship. Thanks to some solid performances over the three previous rounds, the Mitsubishi team started the final event with 196 points against Siviour's 142. Virtually all Pickering had to do was grab a mere handful of points and the much sought-after title would be his. But he did much better than this by finishing the first two sections in second place, and winning the final stage. Pickering crossed the line in seventh place outright at the end of a very dusty race that attracted just under 50 crews.

"The current Pajero is a champion product," enthused Pickering's navigator Glen Watson. "In its first season, this brand new car has been sensational all year 'round. It has finished all the races we have entered, unlike other marques, and now has won the Class Seven Championship!"

Geoff Pickering was equally ecstatic.

"This is absolutely sensational," he said. "We always knew the Pajero was capable of taking out the championship and this is the car that has proved to the world that it can be done. Our Pajero performed absolutely faultlessly for the entire year, with no mechanical letdowns or failures. The Pajero's consistency is what held it up so high in the points, and it is now a double champion, outperforming the very best showroom products the other manufacturers can put together. Mitsubishi has done a fantastic job with the current Pajero."

Geoff also stressed the vital point that the Pajero has finally ended the 16-year supremacy of Nissan in 4WD off-road racing.

"Mitsubishi now possesses a winning product that has surpassed all other makes and has set new standards in off-roading," he concluded.