Dakar Rally 2015: Carlos Sousa switch from Great Wall to Mitsubishi Petrobras.

The Brazilian Team Mitsubishi Petrobras fulfilled a new deal: Former FIA Cross Country World Champion Carlos Sousa from Portugal switched from the Chinese Great Wall Team to the Brazilian Mitsubishi crew for the Dakar Rally 2015 and further events.

Sousa, with a career spanning over 26 years in cross-country rally, will be involved continuing the development of the Mitsubishi ASX Racing prototype - next to the famous Brazilian driver Guilherme Spinelli.

"It is a great honor and I am very happy to start in the Team Mitsubishi Petrobras," said Sousa. Guilherme Spinelli and the Portuguese know each other well, both started together in the Dakar Rally 2010 in the former factory Mitsubishi Racing Lancer, operated by the French JMB Stradale Team.

"Sousa is a very professional pilot like a ´teacher´," Petrobras-experienced team mate Guilherme Spinelli said. "A person with enormous experience, a very positive and professional personality with an excellent performance, driving fast and secure."

The ASX Racing prototyped is developed by Ralliart Brazil, located in France, directed by Thierry Viardot and Mathieu Parent. "We have much work ahead. Carlos will be very important for the whole team. We'll do some more tests and rallies in Europe and Africa, in preparation for the Dakar," said Spinelli. Together with Youssef Haddad, Spinellis next race will be "Rally dos Sertões" in Brazil in August.

Carlos Sousa will officially debut in the "OiLibya Morocco Rally" in October. "This rally is very important to develop the car, besides keeping us in touch with the speed," Sousa said. During the last weeks, Spinelli and new team member Sousa started with first tests of the ASX Racing in France and Africa. "Carlos has the sensitivity and know how to choose the best configuration of the car," Guilherme Spinelli added.