Stéphane Peterhansel, undisputed king of the Dakar, January 15, 2021. -
FRANCK FIFE / AFP
The French Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini) won his 14th Dakar on Friday in Jeddah, thirty years after his first success in the famous rally-raid.
At 55 years old, the one who is nicknamed "Mr. Dakar" so much he dominates the event, won the 2021 edition organized in Saudi Arabia for cars, his eighth victory in this category to which are added six coronations on a motorcycle.
He is ahead of Al-Attiyah and Sainz
Peterhansel is ahead of Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota) in the final standings by a quarter of an hour, and Spaniard Carlos Sainz, Peterhansel's teammate at Mini.
At the time of his first victory, Peterhansel was 25 years old, was riding a motorcycle under the colors of Yamaha and did not yet suspect that his destiny would be forever linked to a competition born thirteen years earlier, in the head of a certain Thierry Sabine: the Dakar.
🏆 1️⃣4️⃣th overall victory for @s_peterhansel!
# Dakar2021 pic.twitter.com/SLYjSoj8FZ
- DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 15, 2021
Winner in 1991, he was again in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1998. Six titles on two wheels, the record remains unmatched on "the most difficult race in the world".
He raced his 1st Paris-Dakar by car in 1999, with Nissan, then the following year with the small French manufacturer MEGA and finished 2nd.
During 2002, he joined the official Mitsubishi team in rally-raid and in 2003 won the rally of Tunisia and the rally of Dubai.
Victory in the most famous car rally came in 2004 with Mitsubishi.
He renewed the performance in 2005 in 2007. Before writing history with new victories in 2012 and 2013 (on Mini), then 2016 and 2017 with Peugeot.
And 2021 therefore, again with Mini.
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