Peterhansel claims record seventh cars victory and Sunderland third bikes title

ABU DHABI: Stephane Peterhansel claimed a record-breaking seventh cars title at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with an assured drive on Thursday, as Sam Sunderland secured a third bikes title in the event.

While the 209-kilometer Abu Dhabi Sports Council Stage 5 had the potential to repeat some of the final-day dramas of previous years, cool heads ensured that Peterhansel and Sunderland finished safely at Yas Marina Circuit, after a demanding five-day passage through the Al-Dhafra dunes.

Partnered by Edouard Boulanger in his Audi RS Q e-tron, the Frenchman recorded a winning margin of 29 minutes 49 seconds from the 2018 winner, Czech Martin Prokop, who was accompanied by Viktor Chytka in a Ford Raptor.

Peterhansel has now surpassed the six cars victories of Jean-Louis Schlesser, and as a result of his bikes win back in 1996, has an overall Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge record equaling the eight triumphs of Spanish rider Marc Coma.

“This is a really special win, a victory with a really good car,” he said at the end of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council stage. “As the driver I made a few mistakes on some dunes, but that is rallying. I’m delighted to be the first car winner with this new generation of cars.”

Sunderland started the last day with a fragile 23-seconds advantage on his GasGas, but quickly showed how the best riders handle pressure. He pulled away to win by 3:8 from American Ricky Brabec, whose Honda teammate, Chilean Pablo Quintanilla, was another 48 seconds away in third place.

Sunderland, who added to his Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge wins in 2017 and 2019, declared at the finish: “I feel really cool. The desert challenge is always difficult, and this one more so because everyone was going really fast. It was a