Following two victories on the Dakar Rally in 2016 and 2017 with 2008 DKR and 3008 DKR, Peugeot Sport prepares a new car for the 2018 edition of the world’s toughest race. The French manufacturer today reveals the Peugeot 3008DKR Maxi, an evolution of the 3008 DKR that conquered South America back in January.

As the name suggests, the 3008 DKR Maxi is much bigger than its predecessor. The new car is 20 centimetres wider due to the suspension track on each side being increased by 10 centimetres. To achieve this, the upper and lower wishbones are new, as well as front and rear track rod ends and driveshafts. As a result of those changes, the stability and dynamics of the car are improved, expecting increased performance.

The newest race car is still under the development. It underwent numerous test and now it’s turn for the competitive test at the 2017 Silk Way Rally that goes from Russia to China next month (July 7-22).

The driver would be the nine-time world rally champion and the 2017 Dakar Rally runner-up Sebastien Loeb. It would be his second start at the Silk Way Rally for the second time. Loeb’s teammates from Team Peugeot Total Stephane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres will compete in old-spec 3008DKR cars. Carlos Sainz, the fourth member of Peugeot’s ‘dream team’, has also helped to develop Peugeot’s newest off-road challenger.

“As soon as we crossed the finish ramp of the Dakar in January, we started to work on the next generation of car to take on this monumental challenge. Of course, there’s only one thing more difficult than winning and that’s carrying on winning, against very strong opposition. That’s why our engineers have a mission to continually improve the car, using their know-how to constantly raise the level and give our drivers the best chance of success. The latest evolutions we have brought to the car improve both stability and performance. Sebastien Loeb will be the driver giving our Peugeot 3008DKR Maxi its competitive debut on the Silk Way Rally, after a number of test sessions that have been carried out already by all the drivers. The data that will now be collected in real competition will help us define the definitive specification for next year’s Dakar”, says Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport Director.

“I think the car is much more stable now that it is wider, and so it feels a bit different to drive. In the very narrow and technical parts that does mean it’s more cumbersome of course, but in terms of stability and driving it’s definitely a step forward. The car has less of a tendency to roll on its suspension now, so that gives you more confidence to attack and get it sideways. I’d say the strongest point of the Peugeot 3008DKR Maxi is the off-road ability that it has. With its wide track and big wheels, it can go more or less anywhere. It’s maybe not so agile on stage-type roads: that’s more the territory of four-wheel drive cars. But the advantage of our car is the fact that it can tackle anything, especially the dunes”, Sebastien Loeb said.

Photos: Peugeot Sport/Red Bull