Peugeot ends long Dakar Rally drought

PETERHANSEL clinches his 12th Dakar Rally victory and Peugeot’s first since 1990.

CAN TRIUMPH be sweeter the second time around?

For Peugeot, which won the 2016 Dakar Rally, it definitely is, considering it has been 26 years since the French automaker came out victorious in the world’s premier offroad race.

The duo of French rally raccers Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret, piloting the Peugeot 2008 DKR, finished first in the overall car class, posting a 45:22:10 time and sealing their victory with a 34 minute 58 second lead over second place.

This achievement is even more commendable considering that it was only last year that Peugeot decided to return to the Dakar Rally, having been absent for 25 years. While only two of the three DKR buggies finished the race in that inaugural outing, this year’s victory surely erased all disappointments.

This victory is the latest chapter in a compelling story of motorsport success for Peugeot, which includes four Dakar wins in Africa between 1987 and 1990, as well as in other various events that include the Le Mans 24 Hours, Pikes Peak and the World Rally Championship.

9 out of 12

The Peugeot 2008 DKRs claimed nine stage wins out of a possible 12, including seven one-twos and two one-two-threes.

Cyril Despres/David Castera and Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena were the big surprises of the 2016 Dakar as they finished seventh and ninth respectively.

Three of the four Peugeot 2008 DKRs entered have reached the finish. Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz were the leaders with just four days to go, but were not able to join their teammates on the finish ramp—though having made a key contribution to the result.

This latest Peugeot victory will go down in history of the French automaker, as an overall result like this would never have been possible without all the team members helping each other, particularly the mechanics.

‘Mr. Dakar’ strikes again

The duo of Peterhansel and Cottret in the No. 302 Peugeot 2008 DKR called upon all of their experience to seal another win at the finish ramp in Rosario, Argentina. This is not only their sixth win together, but the 12th win in total for Peterhansel—a six-time Dakar motorbike winner—25 years after his debut triumph.

The Frenchman has further extended his winning record and ensured that his status as “Mr. Dakar” is beyond doubt.