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Peugeot Sport, Red Bull and Total have joined forces to compete in the Dakar raid rally in 2015.
To take on the 10,000km of the world's longest and toughest cross-country rally 25 years after the French car manufacturer last contested the event, the team has recruited Carlos Sainz. Cyril Despres and Stephane Peterhansel.
Last June's memorable new record of 8m13.878s for the ascent of Pikes Peak confirmed that Peugeot Sport had lost none of its taste for motorsport.
Inevitably, the decision recalls a particularly successful period in the history of the French team which made an indelible mark on the Dakar by winning the legendary competition four years running from 1987 until 1990, first with the 205 T16 Grand Raid, then with the equally iconic 405 T16 Grand Raid.
Team Peugeot Total will take on the Dakar challenge with a new car, the 2008 DKR. After last June's 20-kilomètre asphalt sprint, it's a two-week, 10,000-km marathon that will put Peugeot Sport's all-round skills to the test in January 2015.
The team's driver line-up stars the 2010 Dakar victor Carlos Sainz, who brings his extensive experience and car-development skills to the table, as well as the event's five-time winner on two wheels,
Cyril Despres, who has chosen Peugeot to kick off a new career on four wheels. Stephane Peterhansen has yet to be confirmed by Peugeot as he is still under contract with MINI.
To take on the 10,000km of the world's longest and toughest cross-country rally 25 years after the French car manufacturer last contested the event, the team has recruited Carlos Sainz. Cyril Despres and Stephane Peterhansel.
Last June's memorable new record of 8m13.878s for the ascent of Pikes Peak confirmed that Peugeot Sport had lost none of its taste for motorsport.
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| The 1988 Dakar winning Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 of Juha Kankkunen. (Photo: Peugeot Sport) |
Inevitably, the decision recalls a particularly successful period in the history of the French team which made an indelible mark on the Dakar by winning the legendary competition four years running from 1987 until 1990, first with the 205 T16 Grand Raid, then with the equally iconic 405 T16 Grand Raid.
Team Peugeot Total will take on the Dakar challenge with a new car, the 2008 DKR. After last June's 20-kilomètre asphalt sprint, it's a two-week, 10,000-km marathon that will put Peugeot Sport's all-round skills to the test in January 2015.
The team's driver line-up stars the 2010 Dakar victor Carlos Sainz, who brings his extensive experience and car-development skills to the table, as well as the event's five-time winner on two wheels,
Cyril Despres, who has chosen Peugeot to kick off a new career on four wheels. Stephane Peterhansen has yet to be confirmed by Peugeot as he is still under contract with MINI.