Peterhansel and Sainz confirmed at X-Raid for 2021

Winner of the first edition of the Dakar in Saudi Arabia last January, Carlos Sainz will defend its crown in 2021, still within the Mini Team X-Raid team.

The Spaniard was confirmed this Friday by the training of Sven Quandt, to ride on one of the two Mini John Cooper Works buggies. At his side, the double world rally champion will find Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel, “Monsieur Dakar” seeking a 14th victory in the event.

If Sainz will find Lucas Cruz in the right seat, Peterhansel will be able to count on a new co-driver in the person of Edouard Boulanger, with whom he took part in the recent Baja Poland, with a victory to boot. Boulanger will thus replace Paulo Fiúza.

“I wasn't able to win the last Dakar, but I still have good memories of it, comments Peterhansel. The team spirit was great and the buggy was also very good to drive. I was really happy with my third place.

My motivation is still there, perhaps even more so because I know the buggy will be even better. I have a new co-driver with me and I think Edouard has a lot of potential which he can certainly exploit to the fullest on the Dakar. »

“Regarding the Mini buggy, despite the difficult period, we were able to find points on which we could improve, analyzes for his part Carlos Sainz. The team did a great job and I think we got even better. »

In order to best prepare for the next events, the Peterhansel – Sainz duo will be lined up at the start of the rally of Andalusia next week. On the Saudi tracks, the two former pilots Peugeot will also reunite with their former partner Sébastien Loeb, made official at Bahrain Raid Xtreme yesterday.