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DAKAR / LEG 7 / Carlos Sainz’s turn

After Sébastien Loeb and Stéphane Peterhansel, it was Carlos Sainz’s turn to score his first Dakar stage win at the wheel of a PEUGEOT 2008 DKR as he finished ahead of Loeb/Elena. This success is a justified reward for the Spaniard’s terrific pace throughout the first week of the Dakar.
• Loeb/Elena led at the end of the first section of the stage, but lost time in the second part due to a turbo management problem and one navigational mistake. Loeb battled back to finish second on the stage and regain the overall leadership of the race.

• Cyril Despres/David Castera enjoyed another solid day’s racing today. Starting eleventh on the road, they went on to score a well deserved sixth place finish on the stage.


• This latest strong result from Team Peugeot Total completes a week’s racing comprised of two one-two-three and four one-two finishes on the Dakar’s six completed stages so far. Off the back of these daily conquests there are currently three PEUGEOT 2008 DKRs leading the overall classification.


• Today’s stage was divided into two parts as competitors were challenged with many river crossings amid violent storms in the region.

• After one week of racing, Team Peugeot Total will get a day off on Sunday. Well, almost a day off! Having just arrived back from Bolivia, the mechanics will have to give an extensive service to the four PEUGEOT 2008 DKRs.


Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport director


“This stage went well; Team Peugeot Total scored another one-two result. We are very happy to see Carlos Sainz winning his first Dakar stage at the wheel of a PEUGEOT 2008 DKR. Sébastien Loeb was very close today and Stéphane Peterhansel is again waiting in the wings. This latest strong result is very pleasant but it doesn’t exclude small problems. Like the previous days, we encountered small problems with sensors in the engine area which disturb the turbo management.”


Carlos Sainz (PEUGEOT 2008 DKR n°303), vainqueur de l’étape

“The day was OK. We didn’t have major problems. I’m delighted to collect my first Dakar stage win at the wheel of a Peugeot. It has been quite a difficult week for us as we lost 14 minutes on the first day. I’m happy for the way things are going for the team. It’s nice after all the hard work that has been done this year.”

Leg 7 provisional classification (Uyuni-Salta)

1. Carlos Sainz (ESP)/Lucas Cruz (ESP), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, 5h34min03s

2. Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Daniel Elena (MC), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +0m38s

3. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA), Mini All 4 Racing, +3min22s

4. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA)/Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +3min27s

5. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Michel Perin (FRA), Mini All 4 Racing, +4min07s

6. Cyril Despres (FRA)/David Castera (FRA), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +5min24s

Provisional general classification after Leg 7

1. Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Daniel Elena (MC), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, 21h46min28s

2. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA)/Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +2min22

3. Carlos Sainz (ESP)/Lucas Cruz (ESP), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +4min50s

4. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA), Mini All 4 Racing, +17min36s

5. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Michel Perin (FRA), Mini All 4 Racing, +32min53s

14. Cyril Despres (FRA)/David Castera (FRA), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +1h45min06


MEDIA GUIDE (rally route, driver biographies, technical file and other Team Peugeot Total information): https://lc.cx/4SoY