In two weeks time and for the first time since the Dakar Rally, three PEUGEOT 2008 DKRs will line up together, on this occasion in Moscow’s Red Square ahead of their return to competitive action in the Silk Way Rally (SWR), which will be held from 8-24 July 2016.
The Silk Way Rally follows the legendary route traced by the famous Silk Road, passing through Russia, Kazakhstan and China via their capitals Moscow, Astana and Beijing. On the programme are no fewer than 16 days of racing comprising 15 stages, covering a total distance of 10 734 kilometres – 4 105km of which will be against the clock.
The major new technical addition to the PEUGEOT 2008 DKR is the introduction of air conditioning, which will doubtless be welcomed by the crews as they tackle the Gobi Desert! The heat is similarly a factor in Morocco, where the final testing phase is currently underway to fine-tune the set-up and development of the car, with a primary focus on the areas of shock absorption and engine management.
The three Peugeot 2008 DKRs will be driven and navigated by Stéphane Peterhansel / Jean-Paul Cottret, Cyril Despres / David Castera and Sébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena.
Carlos Sainz won the Silk Way Rally in 2009 and 2010 as well as the Dakar in 2010, however he will not be taking part this year but will remain in Europe to take part in the ‘Baja Aragon’, which will take place from July 20-25 in his Spanish homeland.