Thirteen-time Dakar Rally winner Stephane Peterhansel has recruited his wife Andrea to provide Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge pacenotes to him for the first time in the car category as Nasser Al-Attiyah eyes a Merzouga Rally win in Morocco.
– After Al-Attiyah claimed a sixth Qatar win at the first race of the 2019 FIA World Cup, Frenchman Peterhansel will need to beat compatriot Cyril Despres, Poland’s Jakub Przygonski and reigning champion Martin Prokop.
– The 53-year-old, who has not competed in the race for nearly a decade, believes his German wife Andrea née Mayer can help give his MINI John Cooper Works Rally car the edge over the 2000km after driving SxS races together.
– Peterhansel said: “I have nice memories of the rally. The special stages are not very long, but intensive.”
– Przygonski and Despres will race MINI John Cooper Works Buggies in the race that takes place from March 31 – April 4, the Pole fresh off Dubai International Baja glory with co-driver Timo Gottschalk (GER).
– The 34-year-old said: “We drive the buggy for the second time and it will be interesting to see where we stand in comparison with the others. It’s nice that Cyril and Stéphane are taking part, which makes it more challenging.”
– Despres, who joins forces with co-driver Dani Oliveras (ESP) for the first time, added: “Jean-Paul (Cottret) unfortunately had no time and that’s why I’m competing with the former motorbike driver Dani Oliveras. He did a very good job at the Dakar in the SxS.”
– The only former Dakar winner entered into the bike contest at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is Briton Sam Sunderland with the race providing the opening round of the 2019 FIM Cross-Country Rally World Championship.
– Sunderland, 29, said: “I’m in very good shape. Once you have won the race once it has to be your goal to do it again and that’s what I will be aiming for. We will have to see how the strategy plays out without a prologue.”
– His fellow Red Bull KTM Factory Team rider Luciano Benavides from Argentina lines up, while Mohammed Balooshi (UAE) also competes with Fahad Al Musallam (KUW) looking to clinch victory in the quad category.
– Elsewhere, Al-Attiyah (QAT) and co-driver Mathieu Baumel (FRA) will tackle the 10th anniversary of the Merzouga Rally over the Erfoud sands from March 31 – April 5.
– The 48-year-old said: “Whatever race we enter, our aim is always to win. Last year we were developing the car a lot. We won the Dakar Rally and now the Qatar Cross-Country Rally. It has been great.”