Dakar Rally 2012

The Dakar Rally no longer runs from Paris to Dakar, Senegal; in fact, it’s entirely swapped continents due to the instability of its homeland, but for me, the underpublicized endurance race remains one of the toughest tests of man and machine in modern motorsport. Traversing three countries, the route writhes through deserts and mountains as the riders and drivers battle from Mar del Plata in south-east Argentina, through Chile, finishing in the Peruvian capital, Lima.

France’s Stephane Peterhansel took the 2012 crown after the final stage on January 15^th, driving a heavily modified Mini Countryman. An impressive fourth car class win for the Frenchman gave him his tenth victory in the Dakar after six motorcycle titles in the Nineties. The two-wheeled honours this year went to Peterhansel’s countryman Red Bull's Cyril Despres on his KTM machine. Recognising his achievement, Depres admitted: “This is my fourth Dakar title and I’ve enjoyed every single one of them, but this one seems even more special than the rest. This race really came down to the wire and the result was not decided until the very last minute.”

Meanwhile, the mighty truck class, open to monsters weighing over 3,500kg, was comfortably won by Dutchman Gerrard De Rooy in his 900 horsepower Iveco.

2012’s Dakar was not without controversy - American driver Robby Gordon’s indignation at questions over his Hummer’s legality provoked this response: “I just proved that Minis are for girls, because we beat them by twenty minutes [on one stage]...”
Be sure to keep a close eye on Red Bull's official Dakar site for more Dakar 2012 reactions and exclusives. It reports on all the action on and off the road and you'll find exclusive videos, blogs and vidoes on this gruelling endurance event.

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