Like a theater was the final of the Italian Baja 2003 , rallye valid for Cross-Countryn Worldcup, the European Trophy for Bajas and teh Italian Championship for Cross-Country Rallies. Stephane Peterhansel, who has been all the time in front position during the whole race from the first special stage, has hit a tree about eight kilometers close to the finish line and Hiroshi Masuoka and his co-driver have taken the victory without any problems.
“ I do not know what to say” answered Peterhansel at the finish line, I have done something wrong in my life. This is the second time in a row after the Dakar this year, that I lost the last special stage. I know that there are three Mitsubishis on the podium, but I am not satisfied with my second place. Stephane Peterhansel is down, while Hiroshi Masuoka was exited; he was expecting to reach that position before the last stage. Carlos Sousa finished third with his Mitsubishi Strakkar and had a perfcet debut in this car, having not a problem. Surprise on the fourth place where we find the Volkswagen Tarek Buggy of Stephane Henrard who has taken the place of Thierry Magnaldi on his Honda Buggy. Magnaldi has broken a suspension at the back and was blocked for more than one hour with the assistance for finishing at the 24 th place. On fifth position we find the spaniard Jose Luis Monterde with his Mitsubishi Pajero, who has done a race without any troubles. Edi Orioli lost the sixth place because of electrical problems with his Nissan Patrol of the Team Tecnosport in the middle of the last stage. He finished on the thirteenth position and lost his place of best italian, which was taken from teh team Lorenzo Codeca and Fabio Ferro with a Mitsubishi who has also first in the new Mitsubishi Trophy Off Road 2003. Good performance form Jutta Kleinschmidt; starting this morning from the sixteenth position she showed two good special stages and gained nine positions. Another surprise also from the polish driver Lukasz Komornicki with Mitsubishi Pajero, finishing on sixth position. The portugese Felipe Campos with his Toyota finished eigth ,Helder Oliveira with a Nissan Patrol of the Team Promotech ninth and Dominique Housieaux is the best placed driver of Team Tecnosport on his Nissan Navara Pick-up. Winner of the Suzuki Challenge was Andrea Luchini with Silvano Fattori on a Suzuki Vitara.
