Peugeot has introduced a raft of improvements for its off-road racing 2008 DKR16 rally raid car.
The car now has shorter front and rear overhangs (which improves its performance up and down steep slopes), better suspension (both tougher and with better weight distribution), lightweight magnesium wheels with new Michelin tyres and more power (precisely how much, Peugeot isn't saying) for the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine. The car also has improved aerodynamics.
The team's three drivers are still Stéphane Peterhansel (an 11-time winner), Carlos Sainz (a two-time world rally champion and also former Dakar winner) and Cyril Despres (a five-time Dakar winner on bikes). Peugeot Sport Director Bruno Famin, overseeing the final test in Morocco to sign off the latest incarnation of Peugeot's Dakar challenger, commented: "There isn't one big change that we have made on our car: instead it has been a series of small evolutions in different areas, which together we hope will amount to an overall improvement. The areas we have concentrated on include bodywork and aerodynamics - as a result of which the car looks slightly different compared to last year - as well as engine and suspension, which is all under the skin. The tests we have carried out up to now, as well as our one-two finish in China recently, indicate that we are heading in the right direction. You really cannot compare our state of preparation now to how it was for our first Dakar this time last year, when everything was new to us! Of course you can never say that you are completely ready for the Dakar either, because you simply never know what it will throw at you, but certainly this time we are more ready."
Peterhansel and Sainz have driven the new car through the different phases of its development and found it to be a useful step forward from its predecessor, providing greater driveability, power and traction. Peterhansel, who gave the Peugeot 2008 DKR its first-ever overall win in China, said: "You can really feel the difference now that the car is longer and wider, with a lower centre of gravity, because it's a lot more stable so cornering speeds are faster. You can feel the difference in the engine as well: not only is it more powerful, but you can also use all the power even at low revs. We've almost got a 'problem' now of how to manage all that power most effectively, but this is a very nice problem to have. We're still not at the maximum of our capabilities, but testing has been very productive so far."
Sainz stayed behind to concentrate on development work rather than competing in China. As a result, he has accumulated plenty of experience of the brand new challenger. The Spaniard added: "It's been good testing and the car has been running really well. The potential of the car is much, much bigger than it was at this time last year and reliability has been solid too. We've changed quite a lot in the car in many key areas, so really we can call this one a completely new car compared to last year. I feel optimistic."