Stéphane Peterhansel: “I have confidence in X-Raid”

De Peugeot Sport to Team Mini – X-Raid, Stephane Peterhansel will not lose its eternal favorite costume for the 2019 Dakar, which will begin next Monday in Peru with a first stage designed between Lima and Pisco.

The winner of the 2017 edition, who ceded his throne to his Peugeot teammate Carlos Sainz last year, is counting on the experience of Sven Quandt's team, which has spared no effort to develop and improve the Mini JCW two-wheel drive buggy.

With the support of parent company BMW, whose wind tunnel was used to develop the bodywork, X-Raid aims to regain the top step of the podium, abandoned since 2016 to Peugeot.

“X-Raid is a structure that I know well (he evolved there between 2010 and 2014. Editor’s note). I know we will have high-performance equipment. This reassured me in my choice, Peterhansel told us recently.

I have spent the last four years in a two-wheel drive buggy. I had a lot of fun with it, it made sense to continue with the same specification. In addition, X-Raid offers two solutions; the Mini buggy, but also the 4×4 Mini.

If, in the future, we realize that the buggy is not the right strategic choice, we can without problem use four-wheel drive, which has proven itself (first appearance in 2011. Editor's note).

The buggy was still a little young last year. Afterwards, we cannot be 100% confident. We ran out of time a little. If we had had six more months to refine the tests, that would have given us some leeway. Despite everything, I have confidence in X-Raid. But, and this is inherent to rally-raid, you can never be sure of anything. »

Discover our full interview with Stéphane Peterhansel and our presentation of the 2019 Dakar, in AUTO issue 2197hebdo, available now in digital version and on newsstands.