19 January 2003 - 01:49 Victory set for... Masuoka after nightmare day for Peterhansel Dakar 2003 : Stage 16 - 365 km

"It ain't over til it's over" many tend to say when it comes to a Dakar rally... With a very comfortable 25min50 lead in the car overall before the start of the special between Abu Rish and Sharm El Sheikh, Stephane Peterhansel went through one the worst days in his career after destroying his front left wheel on a rock. The Frenchman loses all hopes of Dakar victory while Hiroshi Masuoa is just a few kilometres away from a second consecutive win. In the bike race Cyril Despres claimed his second special of the rally. "We have to wait another 30kms", admitted Richard Sainct who despite a very comfortable overall lead remains extremely careful before the final day of the race. In the truck category Firdaus Kabirov added a fourth straight special victory on his Telefonica Dakar 2003 record book.

Kilometre 320, just 151kms away from the Dakar finsh line was the scene of one of the most dramatic episodes in Dakar history. After already coping with a water leak after only 66kms, Peterhansel (Mitsubishi - n.206) was then troubled by oil heating, an engine failure (thank you Monterde for pulling him out of trouble), a puncture...and last but not least, blinded by the dust of a Volkswagen, the Frenchman hit a rock and destroyed his front left wheel. End of story!
"It's a terrible day. That's what happens in motorsports and when you think the race is won, you realise that until the finish line nothing is over. We can still keep a positive attitude: some have suffered physically on this race and we're fine."

Meanwhile all the other favourites were already on their way to Sharm. It finally took 7h38min52 for the 6-time Dakar winner on a motorcycle to make it to the end of the 375km special, over 2h55min after the day's winner Miki Biasion (Mitsubishi - n.207) and 2h46min15 off Masuoka's (Mitsubishi - n.200) time.
A disaster for 'Peter' and a first triumph for Biasion. On his first Dakar as a car driver, the former double WRC Champion claimed his first ever special on the rally, beating Stephane Henrard (best performance on the rally ofr him as well as the Volkswagen Tarek) by 4min50 while team mate Fontenay (n.202) finished 5min adrift. After an excellent start to the day with best times at the first two CPs, De Villiers (Nissan - n.217) eventually took 4th place at 5min20 due to navigational problems. Mistakes that cost him a 5th spot overall that was his until km 253 before Sousa (Mitsubishi - n.212) made up the lost time.
If Biasion could enjoy a first special triumph, his glorious day finished in odd fashion. On the Sharm El Sheikh podium at the end of the liaison, the Italian broke his gear box and was forced to ask for mechanical assistance. Because it was done in a 'Parc Ferme' zone, he was given a ten hour penalty which means he seriously drops down in the overall. Mitsubishi team boss Dominique Serieys is considering an appeal.
In the battle for leadership and victory on Sunday, Hiroshi Masuoka can now calmly enjoy the taste of a second success after 2002. The Japanese has a 1h54min10 lead on Fontenay and 1h55min48 on Biasion while Peterhansel drops down to fourth at 2h2nmin25.

The bike race, although still as spectaculor was slightly less heartbreaking for leading positions. Cyril Despres (KTM - n.7) stayed in the wheel of Master Meoni in the tricky last kilometres of the special to grab his second stage win of this 25th edition.
"I'm happy of my second place overall but I'm even happier of having spent such a good afternoon. It's a bit like if Cindy Crawford winks at you and you're then on a cloud during the whole day even if nothing happens."
The soon to be 29 year-old Frenchman (on January the 24th) left Richard Sainct (KTM - n.3) 2min35 adrift. Third place went for the third consecutive day to Marc Coma (KTM - n.10) at 6min20 followed by Meoni (KTM - n.1) at 6min51. The Italian remained satisfied of finally making it to final destination: "I put all my heart in this Dakar. I've had quite a few mechanical or physical problems and sometimes both together. I believe it's the Dakar on which I've had the most courage. It's a great satisfaction."

In the overall, Sainct has a 7min54 lead on compatriot Despres and 38min14 on Meoni. "Today I never panicked because Despres was always just in front of me. I'm very happy and I believe I've managed an excellent race on this Dakar. My best memory? Maybe tomorrow..."

In the truck race the same four battled it out for stage victory but it was once again Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz - n.412) who stormed to his fourth straight win. The Russian left his closest rival on the day, De Azevedo (Tatra - n.410) at over 30minutes (the biggest gap between 1st and 2nd spot on a special since the start of the race), with De Rooy (Daf - n.409) at 39min54 and Tchaguine (Kamaz - n. 407), at 43min11.

Press info - rally Dakar, 18/01/2003