MOTORING NEWS - Team Peugeot Total crews claimed the lead of the rally from the first proper special stage. Using all of his rallying expertise, Sébastien Loeb was the first to claim a stage win, but Stéphane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz were very close behind.
During the first week the Peugeot 2008 DKRs consistently occupied the top three places, thanks to six one-twos and two one-two-threes on the six stages run, inspiring the whole team. By the time the rally reached the rest day at Salta, following some challenging stages at high altitude in Bolivia, the top-three line-up consisted of Loeb, Peterhansel and Sainz.
With a 9 500km route in two weeks through Argentina and Bolivia, taking in extremes of weather and altitudes that peaked at 4 800m, Team Peugeot Total took on a fearsome challenge with one of the most accomplished line-ups seen in Dakar history. With 17 Dakar victories between them, the crews of Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret, Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz and Cyril Despres/David Castera were joined by nine-time world rally champions Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, making their debut at the event.
The second week of the rally offered further adventures with a more varied route, taking in an increased amount of off-piste action and an itinerary through the dunes. Through this hazard-strewn terrain, both Sebastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz bid farewell to their hopes of victory, because of a roll and a mechanical breakage on stage 10 respectively.
Cyril Despres had already been delayed on stage five with a turbo problem, so it was Stéphane Peterhansel who emerged as Team Peugeot Total's main contender for victory. The Frenchman won a crucial stage through the famous Fiambala dunes, and then seized the advantage on the 10th of 13 stages, with a cushion of one hour at the head of the field. He then just had to manage that advantage all the way to the finish.
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 success in various other events that include the Le Mans 24 Hours, Pikes Peak and the World Rally Championship. This win will go down in history for Peugeot, which triumphed at only its second participation in South America. A total of three Peugeot 2008 DKRs reached the finish.
Stage wins: 9 out of 13 for the Peugeot 2008 DKR (stages 2, 3, 5 and 13 for Loeb/Elena; stages 4, 6 and 10 for Peterhansel/Cottret; stages 7 and 9 for Sainz/Cruz)
Leaders: Loeb (stages 2 to 5 and stage 7), Peterhansel (stages 6 to 8 then stages 10 to 13) and Sainz (stage 9)
Stéphane Peterhansel's Dakar wins: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998 (motorbike); 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2016* (car)
1. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA)/Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), Peugeot 2008 DKR; 2. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA), Mini; 3. Giniel De Villiers (ZAF)/Dirk Von Zitzewitz (DEU), Toyota; 4. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Michel Perin (FRA), Mini; 5. Leeroy Poulter (ZAF)/Robert Howie (ZAF), Toyota; 7. Cyril Despres (FRA)/David Castera (FRA), Peugeot 2008 DKR; 9. Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Daniel Elena (MC), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR; * subject to appeal
