Summary (1987 - Paris - Algiers - Dakar)

In its fifth year, the Mitsubishi Pajero entered the ninth running of the Paris - Algiers - Dakar as one of the strongest competitors and, by this point, an established success story. Backed by Nikon and Citizen, long-term partners of Mitsubishi in rallying, the two official Pajero teams set out from Paris into the desert, with high expectations strengthened by their faith in the King of the Desert. Cowan and Syer were back, as were Rigal and Maingret as well as Da Silva and Oligo. The starting field included 54 more Pajeros, with names that quickly became familiar at the Dakar, such as Jean-Pierre Fontenay and the Japanese star Kenjiro Shinozuka, who at the time was better known for his astonishing results in World Championship "sprint" rallying. The event once again offered an epic battle as the cars, trucks and motorcycles fought for supremacy in the desert, over 13,000 km with 18 competitive stages totalling 8,300 km. Once again the rally featured the toughest terrain in the world; under a scorching sun and high temperatures, the Sahara, the unloved Tenere and the African savannah in Central and West Africa had to be crossed. The Mitsubishi Pajeros were often the leading vehicles, in particular Da Silva, who fought his way up to third place. Once again, in the toughest and most revealing class, the marathon category, the class for near-production vehicles, the Pajero proved that it was the benchmark. The prototype class drove as well as it could, but victory would have to wait another year. Shinozuka finished the rally in an excellent third place overall and as the best Mitsubishi driver. He thereby proved that he was one of the most experienced and best drivers in the world, while Cowan, the old master, finished eighth.

Final Standings

Pos.	No.	Driver	Manufacturer	Overall Time
1	205	Vatanen	Peugeot	55.25.54
2	193	Zaniroli	Range Rover	+ 01.15.36
3	309	Shinozuka	Mitsubishi Pajero	+ 04.23.16
4	197	Ratet	Toyota	+ 06.28.25
5	206	Mehta	Peugeot	+ 07.02.17
6	435	Seppi	Mercedes	+ 07.53.48
7	198	Canellas	Range Rover	+ 08.21.23
8	188	Cowan	Mitsubishi Pajero	+ 09.35.14
9	211	Prieto	Nissan	+ 11.26.47
10	199	Procar	Range Rover	+ 12.04.41