Dakar - Cars: Peterhansel earns 10th Dakar crown

Sun, 15 Jan 23:05:00 2012

France's Stephane Peterhansel eased to a 10th Dakar Rally victory as he coasted home on the final stage to win the cars classification.

Mini driver Stephane Peterhansel, right, and co-driver Jean Paul Cottret, both of France, celebrate after winning the 2012 Argentina-Chile-Peru Dakar Rally in the car category, in Sarapampa, Peru, Sunday Jan. 15, 2012 - 0

Mini driver Peterhansel, who won six motorcycle Dakars for Yamaha in the Nineties, added a fourth cars title as the leading GC drivers coasted home safely, with team-mate Nani Roma finishing second overall and Giniel de Villiers of Toyota third.

It was Peterhansel's first triumph in the Dakar since it arrived in South America due to security concerns. His previous wins in the cars section - all for Mitsubishi - were in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

American Hummer driver Robby Gordon claimed the 29km special on the final stage between Pisco and Lima in Peru in a time of 22 minutes 43 seconds.

Mini's Ricardo Leal dos Santos of Portugal was second, 21s back, with Pole Krzysztof Holowczyc third (38s).

South African De Villiers was fourth, Spaniard Roma eighth and Peterhansel 10th.

"When you think of how hard it is to win a Dakar, it's incredible that I've been able to win ten of them," said the champion.

Dakar Cars

"It's been a long time, I've been waiting for five years to win again! To take the victory in South America is a huge relief, it ranks among my best triumphs. Moreover, the race was very close during the first week and there was always a lot of pressure.

"Beating this record is going to be difficult... for the others. This race is stressful, exciting and fascinating, and it's also very rewarding at the end.

"My finest victory will always be my first win in the motorcycle category, but this one has something special to it. I was starting to doubt myself, to think I was growing too old for this, that I'd lost it or that I wasn't made for South America... and in the end everything turned out fine.

"But I still have a blue bandana from my motorcycling period. I didn't tell anyone, but I kept it in my pocket throughout the entire rally. It's the story of the comeback of the blue bandana."

De Villiers was delighted to be the best non-Mini driver.

"Our aim was to crack the Top 5, since we knew we were at a disadvantage with regard to the Minis," he said.

"Our car was designed based on the future rules, so we had a power deficit compared with them, especially on sandy surfaces. But our car was completely reliable and our team did a fantastic job.

"This is an excellent result, finishing on the podium on our first try tastes like a win. The rules are going to change next year, so we'll be even closer and the battle will be awesome. There's no doubt we'll try and win next year."

Jonathan Symcox - on Twitter @jonathansymcox / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. Not the same? Well if marauding bandits are you­ delectation - how can it be?

    The only thing certain in­ life is change.

    Death & Taxes? = Big change &­ small change.

    From Mr Red, on Wed 7 Mar 19:18
  2. Has never been the same since it left "Dakar"­ shame since i used to watch it

    From Homer, on Thu 19 Jan 6:13
  3. Robby Gordon showed that the Hummer was the fastest of­ all. It will be interesting to see what he shows up­ in next year given the Hummer as a brand no longer­ exist. He showed that even with the tire inflation­ system disabled he could kick the Mini in the rear. ­ Given the rule changes for next year I doubt he or most­ of the factory teams will be back.

    From RayH, on Wed 18 Jan 8:49
  4. No Brits at all on any of the leaderboards,bunch of­ wimps need foreigners to drive their rally Mini's.

    From Mick, on Wed 18 Jan 2:11
  5. I wonder what Robbie Gordon has to say about MINI now.­ He had said they were for girls. Now he can't keep­ his keep his hummer upright.

    From Don, on Tue 17 Jan 6:46
  6. shame Robbie Gordon Had to drive so hard.His car was­ given a Real hard time ,If he turned the wick down­ slightly i recon he would have won fairly easily.

    From P, on Tue 17 Jan 6:02
  7. As for De Villiers i say this a success and keep it up­ and fly the S.A flug high brother.

    TT from Botswana.

    From Thatayaone, on Tue 17 Jan 3:11
  8. This year the 'Dakar' has finally been degraded­ to a sponsor paid set up,I'm disgusted! Thierry­ Sabine would turn in his grave if he could see this­ apalling display of arrogance

    From Zürrer, on Mon 16 Jan 15:38
  9. Mini rules AGAIN!!!

    From Save the Male, on Mon 16 Jan 14:38
  10. France rules.

    From Oh-dae-su, on Mon 16 Jan 3:39
  11. robby gordon has been robbed

    From jamesorton73, on Mon 16 Jan 2:59
  12. justanass

    From geulderak007, on Mon 16 Jan 2:03
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    cheater whiner certainly no gentleman

    From justanopinion, on Mon 16 Jan 0:56
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