Autosportfoto

Peugeot says it will quit Dakar Rally if rules change

Peugeot will halt its Dakar Rally programme if mooted rule changes for the famous cross country event go ahead in 2018.

There is talk that next month's World Motor Sport Council will ratify change to the regulations for the World Cup for Cross Country Rallies and the Dakar organiser ASO will follow suit in handicapping two-wheel-drive buggy-style vehicles such as Peugeot's 3008 DKR.

If it does, Peugeot team principal Bruno Famin says the French marque will walk away.

"If the concept presented by the cross-country commission is adopted by World Council and adopted by Dakar, we are out," said Famin.

"We only start [Dakar] if we have a chance to win."

The chief beneficiary of Peugeots being slowed would be X-raid's semi-works Minis.

X-raid team boss Sven Quandt said he backed rule changes to peg the 3008s back.

"The stronger should be prepared to give up something, especially if he is so dominant, as recently Peugeot has [been]," he said.

Peugeot driver Carlos Sainz agreed with Famin's policy and argued the regulation change would be a step too far.

"When we started with a car which was losing around one second per kilometre nobody said the regulations were wrong, nobody complained," Sainz told Autosport.

"But now Peugeot made a really good job with the car and everybody is complaining.

"I understand that maybe the difference might be too big and maybe something needs to be done, but I still believe a four-wheel drive car can be quicker than us in some stages."

Peugeot has won the last two Dakar rallies and would be chasing a marathon hat-trick for the first time in 30 years at next January's event.

Zdroj: autosport.com