Top drivers quotes after Dakar Rally 2017 finish 14.01.2017: Dakar Rally 2017 Saturday, January 14th 2017 Stéphane Peterhansel #300: “For the last week it was a fight for

Dakar Rally 2017
Saturday, January 14th 2017



Stéphane Peterhansel #300: “For the last week it was a fight for the lead between Séb (Loeb) and me. In the end I was able to come out on top but the gap is still very little and I had to rely on small details such as Séb’s puncture yesterday.



I had to use all my experience to get the win this year. There were parts of the race where I know I’m not as fast as Séb, but experience told me I would have other chances to make time. Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the Dakar so that’s something to look forward to.”




Sébastien Loeb #309: “We have done a much better race this year compared with last year, especially because this year it was much more complicated. We had a few minor navigation mistakes but nothing major so that helped us a lot.



We fought with Stéphane (Peterhansel) during the entire race and it was good fun to be pushing hard on each stage. I think 1-2-3 for Peugeot is a great result.”




Cyril Despres #307: “It’s a good feeling to be back on the podium because it has been three years until now. When you train all year for this race and you love like I do then you want to come away with a result to be proud of.



 I have two great drivers in front of me so it’s not just any mountain I need to pass but a Mount Everest of a challenge. I know the challenge that is in front of me to get by these guys and that is what I’ll try to do.”



Giniel De Villiers #302: “Obviously we’re a little bit disappointed but you have to give big congratulations to Peugeot because they deserve their success.



We didn’t quite have the pace so maybe we have to switch to two-wheel drive in future to compete with them. All in all it was a very tough Dakar with plenty of navigation which is good. It was a pity that two stages got cancelled.”




Kuba Przygoński #316: “It’s our second Dakar in a car and we finished in seventh place so we are happy with this result.



It was a hard Dakar with challenging navigation and terrain and together with my co-driver Tom Colsoul we managed these problems well. Our speed is growing and this is important for what we want to achieve in the future.”




Sam Sunderland #14: “When I crossed the line my emotions really took over. I've had a lot of weight on my shoulders for the last six days. Now it feels incredible. I have to say thanks to my team, the bike has been great from start to finish.



 When Toby (Price) went out of the race it was a blow to the team as he’s a good friend. Because of the strong bonds we have in our team it helped us to pull together and strive to do something special. There’s a lot of fast guys that have the potential to win this race, I think cutting out the mistakes was the key to this win.”




Matthias Walkner #16: “This was a really rough Dakar so to arrive in Buenos Aires on the podium is an amazing feeling. I had a tough year last year so to be here now is a dream come true.



The hardest moment came on Stage 10 because there was the potential for my position to change on this day. I really studied that roadbook before the stage to hopefully get some advantage. That paid off for and it felt cool to get rewarded like that.”




Hélder Rodrigues #5: “It’s great to finish in the Top 10, but aim is to be at the very front. This year it was not possible for me to fight at the front of the race because I did not start so good. Every year our Yamaha team is getting more professional and the bike is improving. We will be testing and racing again this year to come back stronger.”





Anastasiya Nifontova #59: “It’s hard to say exactly how I feel. On one hand it’s happiness because I managed to finish this very tough race but on the other hand there’s sadness because this nice adventure has now come to an end. Now we have to wait one year until the next Dakar, so mixed feelings right now.”




CS Santosh #42: “It’s a great feeling to cross this finish line. We’ve been out racing for such a long time. It was tough the first time I did the Dakar but this time was even tougher. To come here and finish again, this time with Hero makes me really happy.”



Daniel Nosiglia Jager #50: “I can’t believe that I’m here with my brother at the finish line, it’s an incredible feeling. To even enter this race was a dream so to be here now having completed the entire route is fantastic. To be here with my brother makes it even more special.”



Walter Nosiglia Jager: #66: “I’m here waiting at the finish to see my father and brother come over the finish line. I’ll have to ask them what took them so long when they finally arrive! But seriously, the support we have all been given by the crowds in Bolivia was so special and made us all even more determined to finish this race.”




Eduard Nikolaev #505: “I am overflowing with emotions and I even teared up a bit when we crossed the line. Last year for us, for our crew, it wasn't entirely successful, and this year we tried to change the tactics a bit.



It was truly not an easy race, not an easy start. Unfortunately we couldn't be up there leading at the beginning but thanks to our boss Vladimir Chagin and his strategy for the whole route, it's been proven that Kamaz Master gets the job done.”



Dmitry Sotnikov #513: “I’m happy to have played my part in another Kamaz victory so we can bring the trophy back home once again.



 Now we’re already looking forward to next year’s rally because we have strong competitors who give us a good fight here. Winning my first Dakar stage is a memory that will always stay with me.”




Ignacio Casale #251: “Wow, I’m so emotional right now. I’ve had so many ups and downs at the Dakar and this is the best I have felt at the finish line. Winning in 2014 was great but after not being able to finish the rally the last two years means that crossing the line now is extra special, even if I have had to settle for second place.”






Christina Gaither- photos Red Bull