STAGE 10 |  SALTA > BELÉN

After the cancellation of yesterday’s stage, the competitive action on the Dakar Rally resumed in Argentina with a 372-kilometre special stage from Salta to Belén. Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret took their second straight stage win in their PEUGEOT 3008DKR Maxi, and with it moved back up to second overall behind team-mates Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz.

  • Despite opening the stage among the cars, Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret dominated. They were tied with their closest rivals after the first waypoint, before taking command and finishing up eight minutes and 46 seconds clear of the competition. The result puts them back up into second place in the overall classification, with a margin of more than 22 minutes over the crew in third. 
  • Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz remain in control overall, with their lead now standing at 50 minutes and 35 seconds in front of Peterhansel/Cottret. With difficult navigation and many river crossings, they took a cautious approach at first but still managed a superb third fastest time. 
  • Cyril Despres/David Castera waited early in the stage for Sainz/Cruz so that they could follow the Spaniards and be in a position to assist them if required at any point. Fortunately, their service was not called upon, and they clocked the seventh fastest time. 

CLASSIFICATION OF STAGE 10

1.Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) / Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), PEUGEOT 3008DKR Maxi, 4h43min46s

  1. Giniel de Villiers (ZAF) / Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZAF), Toyota 4WD, +8min46s
  2. Carlos Sainz (ESP) / Lucas Cruz (ESP), PEUGEOT 3008 DKR Maxi, +13min7s
  3. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi (ARE) / Xavier Panseri (FRA), Peugeot 3008DKR Maxi, + 19min11s
  4. Bernhard Ten Brinke (NLD) / Michel Perin (FRA), Toyota 4WD, +22min22s
  5. Jakub Przygonski (POL) / Tom Colsoul (BEL), Mini 4WD, +23min42s
  6. Cyril Despres (FRA) / David Castera (FRA), PEUGEOT 3008DKR Maxi, +24min30s
  7. Orlando Terranova (ARG) / Bernardo Graue (ARG), Mini 4WD, +26min59s
  8. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) / Andreas Schulz (DEU), Mini 2WD, +27min41s
  9. Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT) / Matthieu Baumel (FRA), Toyota 4WD, +29min16s 

CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 10

  1. Carlos Sainz (ESP) / Lucas Cruz (ESP), PEUGEOT 3008 DKR Maxi, 32h10min53s
  2. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) / Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), PEUGEOT 3008DKR Maxi, +50min35s
  3. Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT) / Matthieu Baumel (FRA), Toyota 4WD, +1h12min46s
  4. Bernhard Ten Brinke (NLD) / Michel Perin (FRA), Toyota 4WD, +1h22min15s
  5. Giniel de Villiers (ZAF) / Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZAF), Toyota 4WD, +1h22min48s
  6. Jakub Przygonski (POL) / Tom Colsoul (BEL), Mini 4WD, +2h29min11s
  7. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi (ARE) / Xavier Panseri (FRA), Peugeot 3008DKR Maxi, +2h51min46s

TBC. Cyril Despres (FRA) / David Castera (FRA), PEUGEOT 3008DKR Maxi, +44h47min28s

QUOTE/UNQUOTE

Stéphane Peterhansel (PEUGEOT 3008DKR Maxi n°300)

1st on stage 10, 2nd in overall classification

“We did the best that we could; we’re definitely in attacking mode rather than management mode! I drove as fast as possible knowing we were opening the stage. It was a tricky stage with many rocks in the river crossings, as well as plenty of camel grass which caused the damper warning light to come on. It was quite complicated in terms of navigation but we did not make any big mistakes. We couldn’t have done any better I think.”

Carlos Sainz (PEUGEOT 3008DKR Maxi n°303)

3rd on stage 10, 1st in overall classification

“It was quite a tricky day with some difficult navigation and many rivers to cross. I took the first part of the stage quite easy, and then in the second part I increased the speed a little bit. Everything is good right now, but we still have one of the toughest days of the rally ahead of us tomorrow, and anything can happen at any moment.”

 Cyril Despres (PEUGEOT 3008DKR Maxi n°308)

7th on stage 10, TBC in overall classification

“Today we started the stage and waited for Carlos after about six kilometres; just to try and stay close to him throughout the stage and be on hand to assist if it was needed. It’s not always easy and sometimes quite stressful; you have more than five hours of driving and all the time you’re following behind hoping that he doesn’t get stuck or lost or whatever. But it’s a team game, and I think one of the reasons why Team PEUGEOT Total is strong is because we’re all prepared to play it and help each other when it’s needed. Now we want to carry on like this for the rest of the event.”

DID YOU KNOW?

After a strong 2016 that resulted in a 20.80% increase in sales, PSA Group’s momentum in the Argentinean market was confirmed in 2017. With a growth of 21% compared to the same period in 2016, the PSA Group crossed the 100,000 vehicle sales mark within the first 11 months of 2017.

WHAT’S NEXT?

STAGE 10 (Tuesday 16 January): BELÉN > CHILECITO. 746 kilometres of which 280 are competitive.

The starting order will be determined by today’s times. The ten fastest cars in stage 10, as well as the ten fastest motorcycles and trucks, will start in the order of their time, in all categories. They will then attack “Super Fiambala”, one of the most feared stages of the modern Dakar in one of the most delicate sandy areas of Argentina. If the temperature is particularly high, the sand will be even more loose.

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