Hiroshi Masuoka: “The Dakar is my life”
Hiroshi Masuoka is both a quiet and spectacular driver. Known for his tireless attacking temperament, he is as good with paradoxes as with a steering wheel. Indeed despite his craziness that often isn’t suited to endurance disciplines, he has one of the most impressive and consistent CV in the Dakar. The emblematic figure of the Mitsubishi firm in Japan competed in his first off-road race in 1979 and took part in his first Dakar in 1987. In 1990, he finished first of the T2 class, then took fourth spot overall four years later. Between 1995 and 2000, he finished in the top 10 on six occasions with peaks at 2nd and 4th spot in 1997 and 1998. The following season he managed excellent results with a Mitsubishi Pajero, and his hour of glory eventually came in 2002 when he became the second Japanese driver to put his name down on the winner’s list of this prestigious rally as part of the Mitsubishi Motors team. Hiroshi Masuoka then kept his title in 2003, a year during which he also claimed the Italian Baja. In 2004, the best of the Japanese drivers managed the most remarkable of series of ten Dakar rallies finished in the top ten when he finished second behind his team mate Stéphane Peterhansel en 2004. During the last edition, the reference inside the Mitsubishi team suffered his first withdrawal in a Dakar for close to 15 years because of an engine problem during stage 10. This year, Masuoka is back and looks even stronger with quite a few arguments to manage a great Dakar. His personal story will be highlighted by the fact that he’ll be celebrating his 20th Dakar on this 2007 edition. “It’s a very exciting birthday!”, he simply explains, before adding: “The Dakar is my life”. Masuoka’s motivation for the 2007 Dakar will without doubt be huge.