2017 retrospective, part one

20: The Peterhansel duel/Loeb at the Dakar

The finale of the most famous rally-raids reserved a suspense specific to speed races. Accusing a cost of almost six minutes on Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret at the start of the penultimate stage, the pair Sébastien Loeb-Daniel Elena released an all-out attack. During the mid-stage neutralization, the nine-time world champions WRC had made up half of their backlog! But by playing with the limits of the tracks, the Peugeot DKR3008 suffered a puncture, leaving the honor of the final podium to “Monsieur Dakar”, for the 13th time in his career.

19: The final lap of the Macau Grand Prix F3

In Macau, it’s better to have your heart set on your side. This 6,120 kilometer route, lined with famous black and yellow rails, forgives no mistakes. Nothing to scare the young guns of Formula 3, who put up a spectacular fight. Sink your feet to the floor in a two-abreast curve? No problem for Sergio Sette Câmara et Ferdinand Hapsburg. Both drivers will end up braking at the 'too late' sign at the very last corner. Daniel Ticktum didn't ask for that much, while Ferdinand Habsburg crossed the line on three wheels.

18: Meeke finds his way in Mexico

Despite his undeniable talent, he often makes the headlines on your favorite site for his WRC accidents. You have recognized it, it is about Chris Meeke. The Citroën resident decided to surprise his employers for the umpteenth time by visiting a parking lot in the last hectometers of the Mexico rally, an event he was leading with 37 seconds in advance. The Briton fortunately ended up finding the right course, snatching a ribbon and preserving a sufficient margin. " NOTe have had success”, he will say about this misadventure.

17: Leclerc dominates the Formula 2

Charles Leclerc has made Formula 2 his playground. Outgoing champion of the GP3 Series, he arrived in Bahrain last spring in the spirit of discovering F2. For a start, the Monegasque was already ruffling the observers in the paddock with a sprint race victory despite a premature pit stop. The Prema Racing driver has continued to impress throughout the season, particularly in Baku (Azerbaijan) where, despite the sudden death of his father, he found the strength to sign a victory and a 2nd place. Crowned with a round in advance, Charles Leclerc got his ticket to F1 in Alfa Romeo Sauber. A trajectory on which Self comes back in detail in issue 2145, still available on newsstands and on our dedicated site.