From Arras to Dakar, the organisation set up an initiation route promising great epics, with the return of marathon stages. There are numerous traps, events experienced by the competitors as well. The media regale each other with the incredible stories that are the essence of the Dakar, which is again attracting the major stars. Competing in 2002 for Nissan, Johnny Halliday realised “a childhood dream” at the side of René Metge. Nissan, rightly, gave cold sweats to Mitsubishi at the beginning of the race with its new pick-up taken on by the Dessoude team.

In 2003, the marque made its official entrance into the rally raid world, along with Volkswagen. With Vatanen and de Villiers, joined by McRae in 2004, the Japanese manufacturer gave itself the means to carry out its ambitions: to carry off a test that has again become a reference where all the major manufacturers of 4x4 vehicles dream of making a name for themselves.

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