Key points
* Victorious on the 2016 Dakar with Stéphane Peterhansel, the Peugeot 2008 DKR will be replaced on the 2017 edition by the 3008 DKR, and entrusted to four crews entered by the French constructor: Peterhansel-Cottret, Loeb-Elena, Sainz-Cruz and Despres-Castera.
* The Peugeot Sport staff has based this new entry on proven technical attributes: a two-wheel drive car and a turbo-diesel engine.
Stéphane Peterhansel, Sébastien Loeb, Carlos Sainz and Cyril Despres are the quartet of champions that dominated the 2016 Dakar and all four will return behind the wheel of the Peugeot 3008 DKR. Thanks to the modifications carried out, they will be the favourites against the likes of Toyota with Al Attiyah, De Villiers and Roma as well as the Minis led by Mikko Hirvonen.
Its latest “desert raider”: the 3008 DKR, whose lines are inspired by the 3008 SUV, which is scheduled to make its world debut in October. “This is not a revolution”, reassures Team Manager Bruno Famin in explaining the changes made most notably in the area of aerodynamics. In reality, the Peugeot engineers and technicians made the most of the significant progress made last year that saw Peugeot return to Dakar glory.
The superiority in terms of pure performance, noted in January with 9 stage victories from a possible 13 in addition to the title, could be accompanied by improved reliability. “We had our share of minor problems, particularly the sensors, which can have damaging consequences for the turbo”, details Bruno Famin. Tested and proven during trial runs in Spain in August, the Peugeot 3008 DKR will make its competition debut on the tracks and dunes of Morocco with Carlos Sainz at the commands. But it will be on January 5th in Asuncion where “Peter” and his team mates will take on a full field of competitors.
The Peugeot 3008 DKR datasheet
* V6 bi-turbo diesel engine: 2993 cc / 340 bhp
* Maximum speed: 200kph
* Carbon fibre bodywork
* Length: 4,31 m
* Width: 2,20 m
* Wheelbase: 3 m
