Stephane Peterhansel
Stephane Peterhansel
Stéphane Peterhanselis a rally racing driver from France...
beginning car confident fact fully open overall run since win year
The car has run more than 15 000km since the beginning of the year and is fully tested. That fact makes me confident for Dakar 2006 but the overall win is still open to everyone.
across chance farmland faster muddy needed parts places puncture push quite rural setting sheltered stage stood water
Today's stage was quite varied. There were places where you needed to be very careful. It was muddy in parts and some puddles of water stood in sheltered areas. Other places were much faster across rural farmland and you could push a little, but after the puncture we had no chance of setting a fast time.
avoid bikes cars closely difficult distance dust hitting hole kept number rock running stage stay
Today's stage was difficult with the number of bikes and cars running closely together. I kept my distance to stay out of the dust and avoid hitting a rock or a big hole in the track.
change fond lost memories passage portugal stop tire
We had to stop to change another tire and lost more time. I will not have fond memories of my passage through Portugal on the Dakar Rally.
car second status victory
This second victory is a confirmation of my new status as a car driver,
nice stage technical
It was a pretty nice stage today, it was fun, technical with a lot of sliding,
camel difficult sand stage
It was a very difficult stage with many sand dunes and some camel grass.
fast stage
It was a really fast stage today, especially at the beginning,
expect fast fine leading morning nearly sixth stage start tonight win
This morning I said that a Buggy could be leading tonight and I was nearly right. It was a very fast stage. We were fine with the navigation, but we did not expect to win the stage today. I will start in sixth place in the morning and I feel that this could give me a little advantage. We will see.
adjust car distances eyes fast felt few fine high judging last next pace pleased quite rally regain sections since small speed surprised technical terrain time train unsure
It has been quite a time since I was last in a rally car and I was a little unsure about my pace on the high speed sections. I felt fine in the technical sections and through the small dunes, but judging distances at speed was not easy. It will take a little time to regain that confidence, but I am pleased and surprised to be leading. I need to train my eyes to adjust to the fast terrain over the next few days.