When the racing gets tough

Toughened veterans take Dakar Rally crown

A PAIR of Frenchmen emerged as the toughest when they overcame tough opposition at the world’s toughest off-road race—the legendary Dakar Rally. Stephane Peterhansel won an unprecedented 10th title by ruling the cars division while Cyril Despres wrapped up a tight

motorcycles category in this year’s edition of the rally, which ended January 15.

Peterhansel, driving a Mini, was previously a three-time car winner and six-time motorcycle champion of the grueling rally but it was his first victory in the race since it moved to South America in 2009. He went into the final stage with a 43-minute lead over closest rival Nani Roma, and finished 10th on the 29-kilometer special, 3:12 off Robby Gordon’s pace.

Peterhansel covered the 8,400-kilometer rally, of which more than half were timed specials, between Mar Del Plata in Argentina and Lima in Peru in 38 hours, 54 minutes and 46 seconds, with teammate Roma at 41:56 behind, and Ginel De Villiers a further 1.13:25.

“When you think of how hard it is to win a Dakar, it’s incredible that I’ve been able to win 10 of them,” said Peterhansel.

For his part, Despres came through the stage unscathed to finish ahead of Marc Coma, whose wrong turn on the penultimate stage handed his rival a clear run to the title. It was a fourth title for Despres, riding a KTM, after the stage won by Pal Ullevalseter.

Despres clocked 43 hours, 28 minutes and 11 seconds in the overall timings, 53:20 ahead of Coma, with Yamaha rider Helder Rodrigues coming in third 1.11:17 behind.

“I always pay attention to detail,” Despres said. “I like doing my homework and, in my job, when things go OK you end up winning!” He added that the recently concluded rally was “without a shadow of a doubt the toughest Dakar I’ve ever raced in.”