---
title: "Peugeot Bows out of the Dakar Rally in Victorious Fashion"
description: "Carlos Sainz beat a field of seasoned veterans to clinch his second Dakar Rally in seven years, his first for Peugeot Sport after retiring from the race for three consecutive years. The victory was extra-meaningful to the French outfit as they had announced earlier in the year that 2018 would be its last edition of the Dakar."
date: "2018-01-21"
modified: "2018-01-21"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/17844/peugeot-bows-out-of-the-dakar-rally-in-victorious-fashion"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Carlos Sainz"
  - "Dakar Rally"
  - "off-roading"
  - "Peugeot"
  - "Rally Racing"
  - "WRC"
---

# Peugeot Bows out of the Dakar Rally in Victorious Fashion

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/01/28005585369_91c0498909_o.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Carlos Sainz beat a field of seasoned veterans to clinch his second Dakar [Rally](<https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/17784/heres-your-first-look-at-the-vw-polo-gti-wrc-car-in-action>) in seven years, his first for Peugeot Sport after retiring from the race for three consecutive years. The victory was extra-meaningful to the French outfit as they had announced earlier in the year that 2018 would be its last edition of the Dakar.

When timing and scoring came to a halt, Team Peugeot Total clinched their third consecutive win in just four attempts. In 2017, Peugeot claimed the top three spots on the podium with the win courtesy of Stéphane Peterhansel, aka Mr. Dakar, who also emerged victorious in 2016. As a manufacturer, Peugeot boasts a total of eight Dakar wins dating all the way back to 1987 when the rally kicked-off in Paris, France and wrapped up in Dakar, Senegal—before the route was transplanted to South America in 2009.

![message-editor%2F1516561386468-stage34\_dakar\_teampeugeottotal\_9.1.2017\_peugeotsport\_mchphotography\_\_619c20ff9b\_k.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516561386468-stage34_dakar_teampeugeottotal_9.1.2017_peugeotsport_mchphotography__619c20ff9b_k.jpg>)
*Cyril Despres piloted the No. 308 machine until disaster struck in Super Stage 4., *Peugeot Sport**

Victory didn't come easily to Peugeot and "El Matador," even with the purpose-built 3008 DKR Maxi machines being considered a step above the rest. “It was a very difficult rally for me. It’s probably been the most difficult Dakar that I’ve ever taken part in, even counting the ones in Africa," said Sainz.

Powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 [diesel engine](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/17728/chevy-silverado-1500-diesel-engine-will-be-built-in-michigan>) that makes 340-horsepower, the race-winning Peugeot carries 105.7 gallons of race fuel and has a top speed of 124 miles per hour. Much to everyone's surprise, the most capable rally racing vehicle in the world sends its power to the rear wheels only. After two weeks, three countries, and nearly 6,000 miles (2,400 of them on paved roads), Sainz came in ahead of two Toyota Hilux racing pickups from Gazoo Racing SA.

![message-editor%2F1516513441909-38962419884\_b7a8ef1a2c\_o.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516513441909-38962419884_b7a8ef1a2c_o.jpg>)
*Peugeot will retire having conquered three of its four Dakar Rally outings., *Peugeot Sport**

Peugeot will now concentrate on the FIA World Rallycross Championship as well as the forthcoming electric Rallycross championship, which kicks-off in 2020 and will feature a fully electric Peugeot 208. With world-class drivers like Sébastien Loeb at the wheel of their racing cars, the adrenaline-loving manufacturer is bound to clinch more championships in the near future.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)