Dakar - 2-14 Jan 17

Peterhansel wins 13th Dakar title

Posted: January 14, 2017 5:01 PM

Rally legend defeats Loeb while Sunderland takes UK's first win.

Saturday's 64km timed special stage between Rio Cuarto and Buenos Aires concluded Dakar Rally 2017 and its 9,000km route through South America.

Car

Stephane Peterhansel edged Sebastien Loeb overall (+5'13) to take his Dakar victory No 13 with their Team Peugeot Total teammate Cyril Despres in third (+33'28). Three Frenchmen and three Peugeot 3008 DKRs occupy the podium*, with only Carlos Sainz missing after he crashed and was forced to retire during the first week of racing.

Loeb did win Saturday's short stage 19 seconds ahead of the overall leader, with Giniel de Villiers, Toyota's South African driver, in third place (+0'30).

"We were fighting with six or seven drivers at the beginning of the race and after a while, they were only four," said Peterhansel at the finish line. "And during the last week, we were only two ? just Seb and I. We fought really strongly and I am the winner in the end ? but it's a small detail. This is the victory of experience."

Bike

Sam Sunderland made history by finishing the last special in sixth place to take the overall win. The first Briton to win the Dakar, he claims the rally ahead of KTM teammate Matthias Walkner (+32'00") and Gerard Farres (+35'40).

Both Sunderland and Walkner had never finished the infamous rally before. The duo made up for Toby Price's abandon, their teammate and defending champion who retired after crashing and breaking his leg on Stage 4.

"It's overwhelming," admitted Sunderland. "When I crossed the line, the emotion really took over.

"It's taken some time to change [from his motocross background], I've learned the hard way like everybody. I kept fighting and never gave up and I'm really grateful for all the people I have around me that have guided me. Everybody in the team has worked so hard, they all deserve this victory."

Quad

Chilean rider Ignacio Casale claimed the closing stage, beating local boy Santiago Hansen by 52 seconds. This enables him to take second place in the final general classification (+1h14'51) behind Sergey Karyakin, the dominant winner of the race, with Pablo Copetti in third (+4h20'19).

Truck

Eduard Nikolaev was already assured of winning his second Dakar but the Kamaz driver confirmed his domination with another victory on Saturday. His teammate and fellow Russian Dmitry Sotnikov (+18'58) gives Kamaz the runner-up position in the general. Gerard de Rooy takes the third overall spot (+41'19).

* All results are subject to change until final technical verifications and podium in Buenos Aires.

Results / News / Event Website - Dakar Rally

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Giniel de Villiers join forces for Dakar challenge

Posted: November 17, 2016 5:35 AM

When you're planning an assault on the toughest rally on the planet you need to be sure you have one of the best possible teams backing you up. That's why it made perfect sense for former Dakar winners Nasser Al-Attiyah and Giniel de Villiers to join forces and race with Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa at the upcoming desert classic.

Nasser already has two Dakar titles to his name, winning in 2011 and 2015. Now the Qatari driver is aiming to make history by triumphing for a third time in a third different car as he prepares to race a Toyota Hilux Evo at the 2017 Dakar.

Following a runners-up result at this year's Dakar it took Nasser and his French co-driver Mathieu Baumel little time to return to winning ways. The duo took charge of their new Toyota machine for race wins in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Italy, Spain, Poland and Morocco as they successfully defended their FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup this season.

Giniel also arrives at the latest edition of the Dakar in great form and with his own ambitions of picking up another win at the famous rally. Since the South African and his German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz won the Dakar in 2009 ? the first edition of the rally to take place in South America ? the duo have recorded a further five podium finishes. These placings have extended Giniel and Dirk's fine Dakar record which now includes a total of 10 Top 5 results.

The upcoming Dakar will be the sixth time Giniel and Dirk's have taken the controls of a Hilux in South America and their input into the development of the machine has been invaluable to the team. Both driver and co-driver have been there alongside mechanics and engineers every step of the way as the Toyota has been groomed into a vehicle capable of taking on the world's most inhospitable terrain and the best offroad racers on the planet.

There's proven quality at the controls and under the hood of the Toyota Hilux Evo at the 2017 Dakar Rally. We can't wait to see Nasser and Giniel go head-to-head with the best in the business on the 10,000 km route from Asunci?n to Buenos Aires next January.

Nasser Al-Attiyah:
"I'm really so happy to be part of this team. Also to be driving with Giniel is a great feeling because I have known him for so long now. I will do my maximum for the team as we try to win the 2017 Dakar Rally. We started this year with the Hilux and to win the World Cup and lots of important races in our first season with this car was fantastic. This team has already had great results at the Dakar but they are missing the win. They want to win and I want to win so it was an easy decision to come and join this team."

Giniel de Villiers:
"The Hilux this year is definitely the best Hilux I've driven. We've made improvements everywhere: engine, suspension, the whole lot. I'm looking forward to racing and having Nasser as a team-mate is going to help a lot. We're definitely going to go out there and do our best, let's see if we can get to the front."

MINI reveals new MINI John Cooper Works Rally - the latest MINI Motorsport giant in the world of cross-country rally.

Posted: November 17, 2016 5:26 AM

MINI is pleased to announce the start of a new chapter in its long, illustrious motorsport history with the introduction of its latest in a long line of cross-country rally car greats: the MINI John Cooper Works Rally. Now there is a new MINI champion in the making...

MINI John Cooper Works Rally: racing ahead into the future

The introduction of the all-new MINI John Cooper Works Rally underlines MINI Motorsport's long-term commitment to its involvement in motorsport especially in the arena of rally-raid and the FIA World Cup, the legendary Dakar Rally and the latest long-distance endurance challenge of the Silk Way Rally.

The 2017 MINI John Cooper Works Rally is an exciting new development from MINI and X-raid and destined to repeat race success achieved so far. Based on the all-new MINI Countryman, its sporting dynamics readily provided a platform for the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally and its role as a specialist cross-country rally car.

To produce a car able to successfully tackle and survive the rigours of cross-country rally is a challenge in itself. However, the MINI John Cooper Works Rally has been designed and constructed to achieve and exceed the same level of success as the previous car thanks to an exacting development programme.

The MINI John Cooper Works Rally will also be subject to constant development via motorsport partner X-raid in order for the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally to become as victorious and iconic in the cross-country rally world as its predecessor. At the same time, technical feedback gained from its racing development programme can, of course, be used to further aid reliability and performance programmes in all aspects of MINI production cars.

MINI John Cooper Works Rally: more is better

MINI John Cooper Works Rally is a new racing car and the result of an extensive development through racing experience of the existing MINI ALL4 Racing. Based on the new MINI Countryman; the car has been adapted to suit the necessary safety requirements and the current race regulations as laid out by motorsport's governing body Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

During the MINI John Cooper Works Rally design, development and build processes, many key areas came under scrutiny and have been extensively reworked when compared to the former cross-country rally car. The following key areas have been priority subjects to deliver a totally new formidable racing package.

• Aerodynamics
• Thermal management
• Weight distribution
• Lower center of gravity
• Modified chassis frame design
• New engine mapping

The above areas were subject to many hours of design and simulation tests to ensure the MINI John Cooper Works Rally delivers improved performance with lower fuel consumption. The changes also delivered a very positive outcome on the drivability of the car from gains made in stability, traction and agility. When faced with all manner of terrain and driving conditions ? from rain to snow to arid dry conditions, from soft sand to deep wet mud, from 3,000 metre above sea level mountain tracks to valley river beds ?improvement in chassis and engine detail is hugely beneficial.

Exterior:

The exterior of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally replicates MINI Countryman and, therefore, MINI typical handling agility for racing use. It is also one of the areas of the car that has received special attention from X-raid technicians. Many hours spent in the BMW Group Wind Tunnel with in house motor sports specialists have resulted in aerodynamic detailing to considerably reduce drag.

Because the overall dimensions of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally are the same (1:1) to the former rally car, and that engine performance and overall car weight is, as in previous years, determined by FIA regulations, the improved aerodynamics of MINI John Cooper Works Rally are important for improved top speed on flat, open trail sections and the required stability at speed. Reduced fuel consumption and better subsystem cooling is also experienced with the improved aerodynamics.

Composite bodywork e.g. carbon fibre and Kevlar is used for the MINI John Cooper Works Rally outer shell, while a honeycomb mix of the same materials is used for an underside tier. The use of such materials is threefold: 1) strength and durability ? ideal for additional safety protection of the two-man crew 2) reduced weight with greater strength, and 3) panels are easily removed or replaced during servicing periods or if damaged.

The underside tier now houses all three of the allotted three spare tyre // wheel combinations and two hydraulic jacks operated from within the cabin. Previously only two spare wheels were carried in the underside. By moving the third from the boot space to underneath, a lower CG was obtained along with a change in weight distribution to improve stability and associated driving dynamics.

With the advent of the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally, new colourways and styling cues are being introduced in keeping with the sporting stance of the John Cooper Works road car range. It will feature the exclusive MINI John Cooper Works body colour Rebel Green with the exclusive MINI John Cooper Works contrast roof colour Chili Red as well as new designed Sport stripes. Further MINI body colours for the X-raid competitor cars are Chili Red, White Silver and Light White. The exterior design has been developed in close collaboration with the MINI Design team. Thus, the original rugged and vertical exterior design of the new MINI Countryman was transferred to the competition cars, such as bumpers, grille, bonnet, side and tail geometries, lights, roof rails and side scuttles. A new style of racing alloy wheel is also to feature at key times during events and is derived from the John Cooper Works accessory wheel collection.

The original design of the all-new MINI Countryman was transferred into MINI John Cooper Works Rally by emphasizing the main features. The design team were designing to 'form follows function', by purposeful changing the original. The expressive fender flares are stressing the crease-lines which are very characteristic on the new MINI Countryman. The body itself is a lot wider on the fenders, which is helping to integrate an air-outlet in front of the doors.

The expressive hood was lowered for a better visibility for the drivers, by enhancing the landscaping of fenders and power dome, and the rugged looking John Cooper Works ALL4 Exterior Optic Pack was adapted to fit the car. The side covers for the underside tier housing the spare wheels are new "Rocker panels" and form a new design icon of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally.

An expressive air inlet is integrated in the roof geometry, framed by the original roof racks. The rear is showing the MINI typically cascading, a self-confident stance and an interpretation of the All4 Pack.

Chassis and chassis components:

To ensure the safety of the crew and in accordance with regulations, the chassis frame of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally is replaced with a specialist frame constructed from tubular steel to aerospace standards. Designed specifically for the demands of cross-country racing, the frame is constructed to exacting standards by CP Autosport.

While the main chassis carries the covering bodywork and provide the skeleton for driveline components it is the job of a front subframe to support the engine. MINI Motorsport partner X-raid devised this subframe to be removable. Such is the design of the chassis and the new subframe; complete engine removal, if required, can be completed in just over one hour.

Suspension is provided by specialists Reiger Racing Suspension. Each axle rides on four fully adjustable suspension units (two per wheel) providing the permissible 250mm wheel travel. Six-piston calipers all-round act on 320mm vented steel discs. To ensure consistent braking performance while under the stress of racing conditions for hours on end in high ambient temperatures, the rear brake calipers are air and water-cooled.

Engine and gearbox:

Exemplary engine performance in terms of response, power // torque delivery and ultimate reliability is provided by a BMW Group TwinPower Turbo Six-Cylinder Diesel engine. Designed with endurance competition in mind, the 2993 cc dry sump engine produces 340hp @ 3250 rpm, and torque of approx. 800 Nm @ 1850 rpm with the regulatory 38mm air restrictor in place.

The use of the BMW Group Twin Power Turbo Technology is an obvious choice for the MINI John Cooper Works Rally within the BMW Group engines' family. The powerful and torque-laden engine is race proven unit that has captured MINI many major victories. Delivering peak performance at low rpm contributes to its renown reliability and is ideal for all terrain conditions from uphill, rocky trails to wide open WRC-like stone covered tracks. Its tractability is also an advantage on desert sands. Low fuel consumption of a race-tuned diesel engine is also an important consideration.

Improved fuel consumption also comes with the use of new engine management mapping. Many hours of testing has realised even greater potential in racing conditions especially at altitude.

The 2017 Dakar Rally will take in Bolivian mountain sections approx. 3,000 metres above sea level. Reduced oxygen content at such heights not only dramatically affects the way a body and mind works, but also the way an engine breathes and can severely hamper engine performance. To fully realise engine performance at all times, the new engine mapping ensures the retention of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally's drivability and performance.

The MINI John Cooper Works Rally retains the highly regarded ALL4 racing driveline to place it within the 4x4 racing category that has seen MINI Motorsport dominate cross-country rally competition in recent years.

The driveline features an AP Racing clutch combined with a six-speed SADEV sequential gearbox. Lockable, oil-cooled Xtrac front and rear diffs with a central SADEV unit to deliver maximum engine performance at all times regardless of the terrain and racing conditions.

Also helping to stir the blood of MINI Motorsport and MINI John Cooper Works fans will be the exhaust tone of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally. The Akrapovič exhaust is a new design with rear outlet.

Interior

The cabin interior has been renewed. A carbon fibre dashboard area consists of three sections: driver, central and co-driver info units displaying essential info. The driver has selected gear display and LED readout for RPM and gear ratio shift alert. Speed, oil pressure, fluid temperatures and electronic functions are displayed on the central dashboard to enable both crew members to view. All navigational systems are located on the co-driver's dashboard.

MINI John Cooper Works Rally: the race continues

Ongoing test and development work is paramount to racing success. The new MINI John Cooper Works Rally is presently undergoing final testing ahead of the 2017 Dakar Rally ? the ultimate in long distance cross-country endurance rallies ? and will be the focus of X-raid staff and MINI engineers throughout its lifetime.

Talking about the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally, Sebastian Mackensen, Senior Vice President MINI, said:

"MINI and X-raid is a legendary partnership. Together we have shaped today's rich sporting heritage of this famous British brand with the four victories in a row at the Dakar and of the FIA Cross Country World Cup from 2012 to 2015 and we wish to continue in the same direction and prove the authentic racing competence of John Cooper Works. With the realisation of the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally, MINI is perfectly placed to extend its sporting achievements."

"Introducing the famed MINI John Cooper Works sub-brand within the exciting arenas of rally raid, cross-county rally and the endurance challenges of the Dakar Rally and Silk Way Rally seals MINI's commitment to this spectacular and compelling motorsport. This racing spirit will always be a part of MINI's genes and products.

"The competitive debut of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally at the 2017 Dakar Rally is a tough debut indeed. The Dakar Rally is the epitome of long-distance rally, where the competitive stress placed on man and machine is like no other but perfectly represents the sporting spirit of MINI Motorsport and the John Cooper Works sub-brand."

X-raid is motorsport partner to MINI and pivotal to its modern day racing success by providing the necessary race support. Sven Quandt, CEO, X-raid said at the reveal of the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally:

"The all-new MINI John Cooper Works Rally is obviously great; is completely different to the predecessor model we built upon and developed; it's a car based on thorough development as well in the wind tunnel. We have achieved better aerodynamics from this and, along with other new features; we have improved performance from this car.

"One of the advantages of wind tunnel development is a higher top speed and better acceleration from 140 km/h upwards ? these were crucial areas for improvement. The centre of gravity has gone down substantially ? we placed about 50 kilos downwards by some 50 centimetres in the centre of the car, which helps the handling and makes the car much more comfortable over all types of terrain, and aids the handling on a rally track with lots of corners. In all: a comprehensive new and exciting package."

MINI John Cooper Works Rally: technical specifications

• Engine: BMW Group TwinPower Turbo Six-Cylinder Diesel
• Output: 340 bhp / 3250 rpm
• Torque (approx.): 800 Nm / 1850 rpm
• Capacity: 2993 cc
• Air restrictor: 38 mm diameter
• Top speed (approx.): 184 km/h
• Transmission: six-speed sequential gearbox
• Braking: 4 x six-piston calipers ? air-cooled front, air / water-cooled rear. Discs: 320 x 32 mm
• Length / width / height: 4350 / 1999 / 2000 mm
• Wheel base: 2900 mm
• Track width: 1736 mm
• Weight: 1952,5 kg
• Fuel tank capacity (approx): 385 litres
• Chassis: tubular steel with composite bodywork
• Tyres: BF Goodrich 245/80R 16

MINI, heritage in Motorsport

1960s, tuner and race car producer John Cooper became a household name with his powerful, sporting Mini Cooper S. In short, John Cooper transformed the great British small-car into a sporting legend with success in many international and national rally series. The brand Mini subsequently became synonymous with rally-sport.

The rich heritage of race-proven MINI performance lives on with today's MINI John Cooper Works range of MINI cars. When the first new genre of British-manufactured MINI Cooper cars appeared in 2001, it was obvious the relaunched brand had inherited motorsport traits from its famous namesake. Together with engine tuning, component upgrades and exquisite styling cues available with the MINI John Cooper Works range, MINI and motorsport are a polished combination that will continue to shine as MINI Motorsport

Despite very short development time, MINI Motorsport with the MINI ALL4 Racing ? derived from the 2012 John Cooper Works Countryman ? achieved incredible racing success in the world of cross-country rally. The toughest challenge of this motorsport discipline is, without doubt, the race-of-all-races ? the annual, long-distance rally-raid that is known as the Dakar Rally.

Such was the brilliance and ultimately the superiority of this racing car, in the experienced hands of rally specialists X-raid and driven by passionate racing crews of the MINI ALL4 Racing family, these cars went on to win "The Dakar" over four consecutive years: 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2016, MINI repeated the status of winner of the four-wheel drive ranking.

Competing within the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup, MINI again demonstrated how success breeds success. Following the first World Cup win in 2012, this success was repeated over the next three years (2013-2015) much to the dismay of the competition.

MINI announces race crews to participate at 2017 Dakar Rally.

Posted: November 10, 2016 10:30 AM

Often described as the "mother of all rally races" the Dakar Rally is, without doubt, the most arduous and demanding automotive race in the world of motorsport. Participation in the Dakar Rally involves months of planning by the teams, the very best of drivers, co-drivers and support crews and, of course, their weapons of choice ? with the MINI ALL4 Racing it is a proven, reliable performer that has claimed four consecutive Dakar wins (2012-2015) and four consecutive FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup titles (2012-2015). Lady luck, experience and respect for the terrain the competitors will cover are also major players on the final outcome of this two-week off-road racing spectacle.

MINI and its motorsport partner X-raid are pleased to reveal eight crews to participate in the 2017 Dakar Rally at the controls of MINI rally cars. Three of these crews will compete under the banner of X-raid Team.

Spearheading the X-raid assault to gain MINI its fifth Dakar title are three crews made up of varying Dakar experience but all with excellent rallying pedigrees.

Mikko Hirvonen (FIN), former WRC specialist contested his first Dakar in 2016 and took a stage win plus numerous top five in-stage finishes on his way to a remarkable fourth place result to earn him the title of Best Rookie. The experienced Michel Perin (FRA) was Hirvonen's co-pilot for last year's Dakar and the 2017 Dakar will see a repeat of this connection.

Talking about the 2017 Dakar rally, Hirvonen said:
"I'm really happy and excited to participate to the Dakar for the second time. I think I learned a lot from this race last year and we've been working a lot with the team this year as well to be as ready as we can. I know it will be a big challenge again but I can't wait to be on the start line and see what we can do."

At the age of 29, Bryce Menzies (USA) is already an accomplished off-road driver. In 2016 he started thrilling international rally audiences at the wheel of a MINI ALL4 Racing and quickly got to grips with this iconic car, finishing top five in each outing. For his first attempt of the Dakar Rally, Menzies will be joined with his regular co-driver and fellow American Peter Mortensen.

"Competing in Dakar has been a lifelong dream of mine," said a happy Menzies. "I'm thrilled to be headed to Dakar as part of X-raid Team and fulfilling that dream. I've competed in quite a few races in a variety of terrain now and while nothing can prepare you for how gruelling the Dakar is I feel very comfortable with my team, my car and my co-driver. I'm looking forward to taking the green flag."

The third X-raid Team pairing to make up this MINI family is that of Yazeed Al-Rajhi (KSA) and his regular co-driver Timo Gottschalk (GER). Al-Rahji's World Rally Championship (WRC2) experience meant his Dakar debut in 2015 was one of speed and top five stage placings. His polished driving skill in a MINI ALL4 Racing in 2016, along with the experience of co-driver Gottschalk, captured them fourth place in this year's FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.

"It's exciting for us, as we are competing in a new team. We are looking forward to it and the MINI is a good race car. However we know that the competition is strong and it won't be easy for us. Our primary target is to reach Buenos Aires, but also to fight for a podium finish. We know what is possible with our skillset and try to finish with a clever strategy and no mistakes."

A further five crews representing MINI at the 2017 Dakar will take up starting positions in the cockpits of MINI ALL4 Racing cars.

The rally experience of this international group of drivers and co-drivers spans many generations and Dakar battles. Each of these privateer crews will pose a serious threat to all of Dakar's competing teams especially with the fact MINI ALL4 Racing cars have received the benefit of further testing and development processes in race conditions throughout 2016.

Orlando Terranova (ARG) and co-driver Andreas Schulz (GER) are veteran rally and Dakar combatants across a variety of four-wheel-plus machines and two-wheels. With such great experience on their side, all advice given to other members of the MINI ALL4 Racing family will be greatly appreciated.

Jakub Przygonski (POL) and Tom Colsoul (BEL) know very well what the MINI ALL4 Racing is capable of. Przygonski's 2016 Dakar resulted in 16th place at the finish despite problematic weather and muddy conditions that wreaked havoc for many competitors.

Boris Garafulic (CHL) and Filipe Palmeiro (POR) will hope Lady Luck smiles on them a little more than she did during the 2016 Dakar Rally. Their Dakar experience together plus Garafulic's race and development season this year means they are expecting greater things by the time the 2017 Dakar Rally finishes.

Mohamed Abu Issa (QAT) can be considered an experienced rally and Dakar competitor... in the four-wheel quad and buggy classes. His step up to the car division in the form of a MINI ALL4 Racing could see the man from Qatar and the experienced Xavier Panseri (FRA) impress.

Stephan Schott (GER) has the distinction of competing in every edition of the South American Dakar. This likeable and knowledgeable gentleman is dedicated to cross-country rally and continues to captivate with his driving and personality. His co-driver for 2017 Dakar has yet to be confirmed.

The Dakar Rally is an event recognised as the greatest challenge in the sport of long-distance rally driving. The 2017 edition (2nd-14th January 2017) will take in the South American countries of Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina. The race will unfold over thousands of kilometres, with every type of terrain to be faced. Conditions will change dramatically from cold to desert-like heat, as will altitude, which can greatly affect crew and car performance alike. Dakar is like no other rally.

Brand new PEUGEOT 3008 DKR ready for Dakar challenge

Posted: November 10, 2016 10:17 AM

Coming off the back of successful Dakar and Silk Way Rally campaigns with the PEUGEOT 2008 DKR this year, Team Peugeot Total and Red Bull have revealed the PEUGEOT 3008 DKR. This is the all-new successor to the famous machine with which Stephane Peterhansel claimed his resounding 12th victory on the Dakar back in January, and Cyril Despres clinched his first win on four wheels on the Silk Way Rally in July.

The all-new Dakar challenger is based on an entirely new model of Peugeot SUV, to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show next month, following eight months of intensive work in Velizy, France, since the Dakar finish ramp in Rosario. The new 3008 SUV forms the inspiration for the latest evolution, following the company's return to Dakar after 25 years in 2015.

The 3008 DKR also remains loyal to Peugeot's two-wheel drive philosophy, with the first Dakar win for a two-wheel drive car in 15 years nine months ago proving that you don't necessarily need four wheel drive to conquer the toughest landscapes in the world.

"The 3008 symbolises the next step," said team director Bruno Famin. "Our goal with this car was to take the weaker points of the existing car and make them stronger, while capitalising on all the existing strengths to improve them still further. There are also some new regulations, which we obviously needed to comply with."

The PEUGEOT 3008 DKR improves on its illustrious predecessor in four main areas:

Reliability: While the previous car was durable enough to win the Dakar this year and claim nine stages (including seven one-twos), in any competition machine there is always room to improve on reliability. Peugeot Sport's engineers went through every aspect of the car in fine detail in order to refine the package still further, focussing both on mechanical strength and also complex electronic processes, such as engine management. The Dakar is the toughest race in the world, taking in 10,000 kilometres at high speeds and altitudes, which makes it the ultimate test of reliability for any machine.

Driveability: Huge steps were made forward in this area from the 2015 debut to 2016, but Peugeot Sport has now ensured that the car's 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbodiesel engine is even more driveable for next year's Dakar, delivering greater torque at lower revs. Adding to the challenge for the engineers is the fact that the latest Dakar regulations have imposed a smaller restrictor on the engine (38mm as opposed to 39mm last year) with a net loss of around 20 horsepower. However, this power is now accessible from further down the rev range, meaning that the car is easier to drive and potentially even faster.

Suspension: This is one of the key elements to success on the Dakar, as it governs just how quickly the car can cover the ever-changing untrammelled terrain that is the hallmark of the Dakar, ranging from salt flats, to WRC-style gravel roads, to sand dunes. The suspension was already one of the most impressive aspects of the PEUGEOT 2008 DKR for the drivers, but for the 3008 DKR further work has been done on the geometry and dampers. The test programme up to now, which has included the 15-day long Silk Way Rally - featuring quite similar terrain to the Dakar - was instrumental in furthering these important improvements.

Air conditioning: It's something we all take for granted on our road cars, but the air conditioning that was introduced on the PEUGEOT 2008 DKR in Asia this summer has been made even more effective for Peugeot Sport's latest creation. With crews spending up to 12 hours a day inside the cars, subject to cockpit temperatures in excess of 60 degrees centigrade, the effect of air conditioning on human performance cannot be underestimated. Even though the drivers are super-fit athletes, the improved air conditioning should help them to perform at a higher level and get more out of the car.

Sebastien Criquet is Peugeot's senior exterior designer, responsible for the aggressive lines of the both the PEUGEOT 3008 DKR and the corresponding road car. The Dakar car's dimensions and features are governed by technical rules laid down by the sport's governing body, but its inspiration is still very clear through a number of unique design cues.

"Our new Dakar car is the most extreme expression of Peugeot's latest SUV," added Criquet. "It keeps the distinctive design language of the road car, but transports it into a rally context. And that's the dream job for any designer: when you create a car, you always have a competition version at the back of your mind."

Peugeot Sport will be aiming now for the sixth Dakar win in its illustrious history, with last year's triumph - in which a Peugeot led every proper stage - coming on top of four wins on the Dakar in Africa between 1987 and 1990. The Peugeot crews have 18 Dakar wins between them and the latest in cutting-edge technology with the new PEUGEOT 3008 DKR but the task ahead is still far from easy with an all-new route this year through Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, as well as strong opposition.

Before the Dakar itself, Carlos Sainz will test the new 3008 DKR in race mode against other Dakar competitors and Cyril Despres in the PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, during Morocco's Rally Oilibya in October.

The potent combination of Peugeot, Red Bull, Total, Sparco, BF Goodrich and the most successful Dakar driver line-up in the world: Stephane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz, Sebastien Loeb and Cyril Despres, is well and truly back. Look out for the first videos of the new car in action, coming soon.

Event Website / Details

Posted: November 3, 2016 12:42 PM

Dakar Rally