DEFENDER

 S.P. 

• As a young skateboarding champion, Stéphane Peterhansel was already captivated by the images of the Dakar Rally in the 1980s, with Cyril Neveu and Hubert Auriol racing across the Saharan dunes. Little did he know that 40 years later, he would be sitting on a mountain of 14 titles won with some of the best cars and motorcycles in history. Nor that he would line up for the 36th time in 2026, at the age of 60. 
• A fearsome enduro rider, his talent and precocity allowed him to learn rally raiding extremely quickly, winning his first Dakar in 1991. The biker with the blue bandana won six titles in eight years aboard a Yamaha. When he switched to four wheels, he quickly put the skills he hd acquired on a motorbike to good use: 7th in his first outing in 1999, he finished 2nd the following year. The crowning glory came in 2004: ‘Peter’ became the second driver in history to win both on a motorbike and in a car after Hubert Auriol. The rest of the ‘Mitsu’ saga earned him two more successes in 2005 and 2007.
• Following the withdrawal of the Japanese brand, he joined X-raid and in 2012 claimed his 10th title. Far from satisfied with this winning streak, 'Monsieur Dakar' followed up with another victory in 2013. A new challenge arose in 2015 with Peugeot's return. In 2016, 'Peter' made the lion roar for the first time since the success of Ari Vatanen in the 405. The series continued with the 3008, securing a 13th title after a tense duel with teammate Sébastien Loeb. Another entry into the record book came in 2021: 'Peter' became the only competitor to have won in Africa, South America, and Asia. 
• The collection could have prompted him to call it a day. Still, he joined forces with Audi, which offered him the chance to participate in the design and development of the first electric vehicle capable of winning. The car proved successful in its final year (2024), but in the hands of Carlos Sainz. The French veteran's three attempts failed: first due to teething problems with the RS Q e-tron, then due to a driving error in 2023, and finally due to various incidents in 2024. His consolation prize was his 50th stage victory in a car, equalling Vatanen's record.
• A long series of 29 consecutive Dakar rallies contested since 1995 will come to an end in 2025. Peterhansel will be back after a one year break for the new challenge that awaits him: a 36th Dakar and 2026 W2RC season, this time with Defender, which is entering the Stock category. It's a project that reminds him of the spirit of his first rally-raid adventures in the late 1980s. At 60, ‘Monsieur Dakar’ is not done authoring the history of his sport!