Stéphane Peterhansel confides after the departure of Édouard Boulanger to Nasser Al-Attiyah: “I told him not to hesitate”

The transfer window information will certainly not cause as much excitement as the announced passage of Lewis Hamilton de Mercedes toward Ferrari en Formula 1, but still. Nasser Al-Attiyah has secured the services of legendary Stéphane Peterhansel as co-driver for the remainder of the 2024 World Championship season. rally-raid (W2RC), which is not nothing!

Indeed, the Frenchman Mathieu Baumel was replaced by his compatriot Édouard Boulanger. The first city is paying for a 2024 Dakar punctuated by mechanical problems as well as bitter declarations from the Qatari driver towards the Prodrive team.

ALSO READ > Édouard Boulanger replaces Mathieu Baumel alongside Nasser Al-Attiyah

 

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This change leaves a pilot all alone, without a navigator; it is “Monsieur Dakar” himself. With 14 rally-raid victories (6 with Yamaha on a motorcycle, 8 on a car), Stéphane Peterhansel has already faced many delicate situations during his rich career. Also, when AUTOhebdo contacted him by message at the beginning of the afternoon, this Thursday, it was quite natural that the native of Échenoz-la-Méline (Haute-Saône) called us back less than 10 minutes later. Question of simplicity, honesty and efficiency.

In the voice, no bitterness is perceptible. “Returning from the 2024 Dakar (finished in 55th place following various mechanical problems. Editor's note), I didn't know what I wanted, to continue my career or not, declares Stéphane Peterhansel. I spoke about it with Édouard (Baker), I told him that if I continue in rally-raid, it’s for a year (additional), because I don't have the ''marrow'' to make a long-term program. »

The discussion was very open between the two men, who shared the same cabin between the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2024 in the deserts around the world. “I told him not to hesitate if he came across a good opportunity on his side. To his surprise, as well as that of many people in the community, it was Nasser (Al-Attiyah) who called him! »

A fine player, Stéphane Peterhansel was almost relieved. He and Boulanger are not at the same stage of their careers; 14 years separate them. At 58 years old, “Peter” did not see himself curbing his co-pilot’s desire for a career. Peterhansel has been rolling in the dunes since the end of the 1980s, and has won the Dakar on every continent (Africa, South America, Middle East), on two or four wheels. For his part, Édouard Boulanger (44 years old) waited until 2015 to have his first experience on the Dakar, and won the event “only” once (in 2021 on the Mini X-Raid diesel buggy) . His thirst for adventure and new sporting challenges is logically more important.

The victory acquired at the 2021 Dakar remains a strong moment for the Peterhansel-Boulanger duo. Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI

“I was happy when Édouard told me about this first contact with Nasser. Up until that moment, I almost felt guilty for holding him back! There has been zero tension between us this winter. If I had continued on a medium-term program, we would very likely have continued together. »

Implicitly, Stéphane Peterhansel mentions here the end of Audi Sport's presence in rally raids, with immediate effect as soon as the 2024 Dakar is won. The German manufacturer has never hidden its desire to stick to three participations in the rally-raid contested in Saudi Arabia (2022, 23 and 24), but did not rule out competing in a few rounds of the World Championship of the specialty during the year 2024. She also registered in this sense for the Championship just before the start of the Dakar. It therefore seems that the official Audi crews will be free as the air from this month of February.

“I only keep positive things from our collaboration with Édouard,” continues Stéphane Peterhansel. We experienced very beautiful things. There were highs, like this victory in the 2021 Dakar for our first major competition together, then a set of ups and downs with Audi (victory at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2022, a stage of the Dakar in 2022 and 2024 but also an accident at the Dakar 2023 which led to a loss of consciousness for the driver and two fractures to the vertebrae for the co-pilot. Editor's note). We still managed to help as best we could. Carlos Sainz so that he wins the last edition. During these four years of working together, there was not the slightest friction in the car. »

In the running for victory in the 2024 Dakar, Peterhansel-Boulanger lost too much time following mechanical problems. Photo Eric Vargiolu / DPPI

Obviously, the question that burns the lips of every rally-raid enthusiast is obvious. Does this departure signal the end of Stéphane Peterhansel’s career? “For my part, I am happy that he has found a role of co-driver. But what I'm focused on, I still haven't made a decision. The reflection is not yet ripe. I'm at the same stage as when I finished the Dakar. »

As he admits, Stéphane Peterhansel is not “no rush” to make his choice. After all, his sporting seasons with Audi were limited to three rallies per year (the Baja Aragon in August, the Morocco Rally in October and the Dakar). There is therefore no hurry, and a manufacturer or a preparer will know how to set up his workshop if the rally-raid legend knocks on the door in the coming months. And if he comes to retire, let's be sure that Stéphane Peterhansel will announce it in due form, cutting short the rumors on social networks, like the chivalrous pilot that he has always been.