Dakar - The PEUGEOT 2008 DKRs in convoy

In order to help their team mates in case of any possible problems, Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena as well as Cyril Despres/David Castera placed themselves at the disposal of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret over the 481 kilometres of the penultimate stage. Adopting a conservative pace, the three PEUGEOT 2008 DKRs finished eighth (Loeb/Elena), ninth (Despres/Castera) and 10th (Peterhansel/Cottret). The number 302 car maintains a 40-minute overall lead heading into the final stage of the rally tomorrow, which comprises 180 kilometres.

 Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport director

“The outcome of today is positive, as all three cars have reached the finish without any issues. It was a long and demanding stage. It lasted for 5h45m; more than an hour longer than was predicted on terrain that was complex and tricky, with slow and narrow roads. Our strategy was one of teamwork. Like Cyril and David, Sébastien and Daniel stuck close to Stéphane and Jean-Paul just in case there were any situations where they could assist by donating spare parts, or getting them out of difficulty. Luckily, that wasn’t necessary.”

 Provisional classification of stage 12 (San Juan-Villa Carlos Paz)

1. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Michel Perin (FRA), Mini All 4 Racing, 5h34min17s
2. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA), Mini All 4 Racing, +09s
3. Leeroy Poulter (ZAF)/Robert Howie (ZAF), Toyota Hilux, +45s
4 Giniel De Villiers (ZAF)/Dirk Von Zitzewitz (DEU), Toyota Hilux , +57s
5. Nani Roma (ESP)/Alex Haro Bravo (ESP), Mini All 4 Racing, +3min09s
8. Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Daniel Elena (MC), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +8min33s
9. Cyril Despres (FRA)/David Castera (FRA), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +9min17s
10. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA)/Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +11min05s 

Overall classification after stage 12

1. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA)/Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, 47h27min42s
2. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA), Mini All 4 Racing, +40min59s
3. Giniel De Villiers (ZAF)/Dirk Von Zitzewitz (DEU), Toyota Hilux, +1h07min16
4. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Michel Perin (FRA), Mini All 4 Racing, +1h11min42s
5. Leeroy Poulter (ZAF)/Robert Howie (ZAF), Toyota Hilux, +1h36min16s
7. Cyril Despres (FRA)/David Castera (FRA), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, + 1h55min05
9. Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Daniel Elena (MC), PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, +2h22min46s