won the Dakar 1997 with Mitsubishi

The world of protest is mourning one of its main characters of the 80s and 90s. The news arrived today the death of Kenjiro Shinozuka, perhaps the best Japanese driver in the history of the sport, from pancreatic cancer, aged 75.

His great career success began 1997, when he won the Paris-Dakar in the car category at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, while Henri Magne was the co-driver and beat fellow participants Jean-Pierre Fontenay and Bruno Saby. The highest part of its history with the Dakar, which has it participated 21 times between 1986 and 2007 (skipping only the 2006 edition) and climbed to the podium six more times.

His work has been associated with a brand born in Tokyo in 1870, for which, before becoming a pilot, he was employed. In fact, his relationship with Mitsubishi began in the company, dealing with advertising, sales, product planning and external affairs. Rallying was just a hobby, which later became a real job in 1969 when a Japanese company discovered his talent and made him an official driver.

In addition to his work in Dakar, Shinozuka was also able to establish himself in the World Rally Championship in his career: although he never appeared regularly, he boasted two successes, in the 1991 and 1992 Ivory Coast Rally.