Saint-Lo is located in the Normandy region of France some 300 kilometres north-west of Paris. The town is home to the headquarters of Dessoude Nissan a dealership with a proud track record as the third largest dealer by unit sales in France. Under the banner “Team Dessoude” the company has participated in Paris-Dakar rallies since the early years, notably in the Patrol GR (known as the Safari in Japan) and the Pathfinder (known as the Terrano in Japan). President Andre Dessoude has personally driven for his famous team which has an illustrious history. This is where one of the Japanese rookie drivers, Jun Mitsuhashi, currently lives and trains as part of Nissan Motor’s young driver training programme.

Coming south from the Normandy coast and following the main road brings the visitor to the Dessoude headquarters’ showroom, an impressive building located opposite a roundabout at the entry to Saint-Lo. In a corner of the showroom, a red T2 specification Pathfinder is ranged alongside March and Z production cars while the walls are adorned with photo portraits of a proud lineage of rally drivers dating back to the early 1980s. A rally car showroom further to the rear of the premises has created what is a rather unusual atmosphere for a new car dealer. In the race car garage behind this, work to prepare entrant cars for the Paris-Dakar Rally has reached fever pitch. Clad in mechanic’s overalls and assisting in work on a Pathfinder is Jun Mitsuhashi.

“It’s three months since I was chosen as a rookie and came over to France. I have settled in to life here quite well. My routine consists of attending French language school, going to the gym and training as a mechanic. Basically I am concentrating on the car I will be driving in the rally but I have now experienced overhauling the dif and transmission and I have gained an understanding of how drive systems work in motor vehicles.” Mitsuhashi currently boards in an apartment and commutes daily to the garage. He has brought a rice cooker from Japan and his room is unexpectedly neat for someone who cooks his own meals. “I disposed of most of what I had in Japan and came here with the intention of settling down and making a go of it. The French language isn’t easy and I still have a long way to go but I think I‘m managing to communicate,” he laughs.

Mitsuhashi had notched up three consecutive Dakar Rally appearances riding a motorcycle by 2003. To make the transition to four-wheel vehicles and by way of training he participated in the 2003 Pharaoh’s Rally (Egypt) and the Shamrock Rally (Morocco) driving a T2 specification Nissan Pathfinder from Team Dessoude. Mitsuhashi maintains it was a worthwhile learning experience.

“Unlike a bike, a car has breadth. On a bike the rider adjusts his body movement as he manoeuvres the bike and actually creates the bike’s orientation so when I first drove in Johannesburg that difference made it feel really strange. But now I’m a lot more used to it. The other thing that was totally scary in a car was that split second of not being able to see what’s ahead when cresting a sand dune, but that’s OK now too.” Mitsuhashi appears to be steadily gaining proficiency but while he has acquired some confidence for his four-wheel class debut in the Dakar Rally he says he still harbours numerous doubts.

“Although I have definitely become more familiar with cars I still have a long way to go in terms of fast driving technique. When I get the chance to sit next to other drivers I can now see individual flaws but I am blown away by the driving of skilful drivers. Even though I also drive a Pathfinder, with the move from a T2 spec to a T1 spec that is closer to a production car, there are a number of issues I haven’t yet grasped: like for example, how to anticipate the required power. But what worries me the most is sand dunes. With a bike, if you get the revs up sufficiently you can blaze over virgin sand at will. You can go anywhere and even if you jump, opening the throttle lifts the front so that you’re OK as long as the landing is flat. It’s not so simple with a big, heavy motor vehicle. You’re scared of getting stuck on the climb up the dune and scared on the way down just in case there’s a bike crashed below. Crossing sand dunes is certainly a major issue for me.”

“Even so, as the home of the Paris Dakar, I have a lot to gain on a number of fronts from living as a trainee in France, including making personal connections. On the car side of things, my first impression of the new gas-filled shock absorber unit was favourable and I think we’ll be able to make a good start. There are some “T1 tradesmen” specialists in this class so achieving a prize-winning place in this race debut won’t be easy but I’d like to finish the event and use this momentum for the next time.” From December 20, Mitsuhashi is scheduled to participate in shakedown tests on the outskirts of Paris along with other crews from Team Dessoude. He then departs for Clermont-Ferrand for vehicle inspection.
ROOKIE TRAINING PROGRAM
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