Peterhansel tips Sainz for Dakar win

Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel believes rival Carlos Sainz starts favourite for the Dakar Rally which makes its first appearance in South America tomorrow.

The rally was moved from Senegal in West Africa for security reasons and the organisers decided to move it to Argentina and Chile, something nine-time winner Peterhansel thinks will suit Spaniard Sainz.

With last year’s rally being cancelled over security fears because of the threat of terrorist attacks the event, which will begin and end in Buenos Aires, now runs from January 3-18.

The 43-year-old Peterhansel, who is driving the new Mitsubishi Racing Lancer, aims for a fourth car title to add to the six he won on motorcycles.

Peterhansel told Chilean newspaper El Mercurio that two-time world rally champion Sainz starts as favourite because the geographical conditions of the route will favour him.

He said: “Sainz is so fast in the routes that are similar to the world rally. He has a clean way to drive. His possibilities in South America increase a lot. I run in Chile in 2005 in the Patagonia Atacama race and the Atacama desert impressed me. It has the highest dunes I’ve ever seen. It will not be easy at all.”

Sainz believes he is well prepared for his South American adventure and will be able to cope with racing at altitude which is something new for the Dakar Rally.

Sainz told TV station claimed he would win the 9,574-kilometre event in the Volkswagen Touareg.

“The only thing I think of is winning. At this point of my career, I am only motivated by winning it,” he said.

“We’ve been told it will be a very tough rally and we’ve prepared a lot for it, for the heat since the very beginning and altitude.”

Marc Coma, the 2006 motorcycle class winner, is motivated by the new terrain.

He said: “This edition of the Dakar will be a big surprise. There is a big part of the route that we don’t know so it will be an uncertain race.”

Coma said of tomorrow’s opening stage from Buenos Aires to Santa Rosa: “We’ll find a big piece of farm land, with good and fast roads. One of the things we might find is rain, as summer storms could complicate our way to drive and ride.

“These should not be so many complications in the beginning, but the first stage is quite long, much more than the past first stages we were used to competing in Portugal.

“For the ones who had a big experience in Africa, it’ll be useless. Now, local racers will have the advantage,” he added.

Argentinian Orlando Terranova, who will drive a BMW X3, is tipped to do well as is Chilean motorcycle rider Francisco ’Chaleco’ Lopez on a KTM 690.

“We’ll have to manage the pressure of being hosts. I compare this with football – the difference between competing here and abroad is like playing with or without supporters,” Terranova told the Ole newspaper.

“My team (X-Raid) have prepared very well to win this race. The teams do not know what they are going to face. There are no previous references. This Dakar will be the biggest adventure.”

Lopez told La Tercera newspaper: “We’ll have to take care of the mechanical issues a lot, plan a clean-race strategy and pay attention to the tyres, as they are going to puncture a lot.”

Vladimir Chagin, five times winner in the truck category, said: “With not long now to go before the start of the race, I have a totally positive feeling. The newness really is a source of motivation.

“The climate is supposed to be difficult and very hot, but we are already used to that. We are just hoping that the engines will adapt as well as us and that once again we can aim for first place.”