Peterhansel: “See if this is the last special I did or not”

The record holder for victories on the Dakar Rally was certainly not the first to put his name on the list of the new Saudi adventure, but Stephane Peterhansel was far from unworthy in this 2020 edition.

3rd this Friday at the final finish behind the winner Carlos Sainz (Mini) et Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota), le pensionnaire de Mini X-Raid However, we do not yet know if he will continue in 2021.

« We're really going to sit down with Andrea and see if it's worth restarting the machine, going back for another year, indicates the Frenchman at the last stop point.

It is still a physical and time investment. We'll see if this is the last special I did today or not, I have to see this with Andrea.

Co-driven by Paulo Fiuza, last minute replacement for Andrea Peterhansel, unavailable for medical reasons, Peterhansel was in good spirits by winning four stages.

“It was a little complicated before the start and we questioned ourselves with Andrea's withdrawal from the co-pilot position, underlines the Mini driver. In fact, we're not doing so badly and we're in the place we deserve.

Whether it was speed or navigation, we weren't the best, but it's still a positive result. Usually it's not my goal to win stages. I won Dakars without winning a SS. It's more the general ranking.

But four stages are a consolation, it’s nice. It shows that we still have the speed and the momentum and that there is performance. » 

Discover the full report of the last week of the Dakar 2020, produced by our special correspondent in Saudi Arabia, in AUTO issue 2251hebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version and from next Wednesday on newsstands.