This year marks a quarter of a century since Peugeot last won the Paris-Dakar rally (as it was then) with Ari Vatanen and a 405 T16 Grand Raid. Now of course it is back with the
2008 DKR
, Carlos Sainz and a desire to repeat that previous success.
At the moment, the Peugeot effort is going OK. At the time of writing Sainz's 2008 is in fourth, 19 minutes behind the lead Mini. There's another in 16th and the third car in 20th place.
Anyway, time for some Dakar nostalgia as now seems like the most appropriate occasion. In 1990 Peugeot entered four cars (two 405s and two 205s) and took all three podium positions; Ari Vatanen won despite crashing into a tree. You might say Peugeot had the luck that year.
This vid is a 15-minute highlights reel from back then and you can't help but be impressed at the manufacturer involvement. As well as Peugeot's entry, Mitsubishi raced with six Shoguns, Toyota brought five cars and Nissan had seven Patrols. Even Range Rover had a crack. And the surprise entry? Jacky Ickx. In a Lada. Did quite well in fact.
It's a fascinating view on the old Paris-Dakar and the challenges faced. Then when you think it must have been a challenge in a car you see the guys doing it on two wheels. Madness.