Mitsubishi is again this year one of the clear favourites to win the Dakar rally-raid event. Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel, who won in the motorcycle class on numerous occasions in the past, is again the man to watch for. Peterhansel, already a three-time winner in the car category, looks ready to clinch a fourth overall victory. His teammates are former ski champion Luc Alphand, who could well be the victor this year, and Roma and Shinozuka.However, two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz looks to topple Mitsubishi's recent seven-year domination of the event. The Spaniard will be driving a 2.5 litre diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg 2. Former Mercedes-Benz Group C racer Jean-Louis Schlesser will once more attack the big money manufacturers with his self built buggy, looking to win for a third time.Former World Rally driver Bruno Saby will drive once again after having had time recently helping out French Television with their intense coverage of the event. He will drive a BMW X3 vacated by the death of Colin McRae.WTCC series' runner-up Yvan Muller will drive solo in an SMG buggy, designed by Phillipe Gache. Muller's teammate will be former F1 driver and fellow WTCC racer Tiago Monteiro.Vanina Ickx will once more follow in her father's footsteps, while former DTM lady driver Ellen Lohr will attack the event for the third time.Former Formula 1 driver Ukyo Katayama will again drive a Toyota, while from the USA, the multi-talented Robby Gordon will attack the event for the fourth time in his Hummer.
30th edition of the Dakar