DAKAR 2012: Peterhansel favorite

The Dakar was once again full of entrants this year. Even to the point that the organizers had to “block the counters” several weeks before the scheduled closing of registrations. In total, 465 vehicles (including 171 cars) will be at the start in Mar Del Plata. An increase of 15% compared to the previous edition and 24% of first participations among the “auto” competitors. Fifty nationalities will be represented, with eleven women at the start (all categories combined)

Absent from this 33rd edition, Volskwagen passes the baton as favorite team to Team Leonid Novitskiy (Russia) and Ricardo Leal Dos Santos (Portugal). Among all, the designated favorite will be the Frenchman Peterhansel (4 times winner of the event: 9 motorcycle victories and 6 car victories). Interview…

What does this unique journey inspire you? rally ?

As it is a road race, it will be more like the Dakar we experienced in Africa. The course seems quite balanced. With the experience the organizers have gained from the first three editions in South America, I think we can expect to cover the best parts of Argentina and Chile. And finally, David Castera (Sports Director of the Dakar. Editor's note) seems to have found dunes as far as the eye can see which are reminiscent of those of Mauritania and which are already shaping up to be the main difficulties of the rally during the last three days of the competition. This promises suspense until the end!

How will you prepare for these new Peruvian stages?

It's not easy as we have no experience of Peru. We cannot really anticipate what these three major Peruvian stages will be, but we will try to find the most precise maps possible of these places to study them.

The final stages promise to be very difficult, even the toughest of the rally. How do you approach this scenario?

In the past, we have already experienced editions with tough final stages, where the result of the rally could still change. It actually seems that stages 12 and 13 are going to be the most difficult of the rally. But above all, they will be played on a terrain that we will discover. This will put doubt and pressure in the minds of all competitors. This will be an additional parameter to manage…

What is the state of mind between drivers within Team X-Raid?

I am very happy to have found Nani Roma who has been my friend for a long time. Krzysztof Holowczyc and Leonid Novitskiy are very fast and very friendly. Therefore, the atmosphere is good within the team.

Any reliability fears with the Mini All4 which experienced mechanical problems at Silk Way and in Morocco recently?

We sorted out the problems one by one and I hope the car will be 100% reliable for the Dakar. The team paid great attention to the final assembly of the cars. So, I hope we will be on top!