Coming off the back of a successful Dakar and Silk Way Rally campaign with the 2008 DKR this year, Team Peugeot Total and Red Bull have unveiled the new 3008 DKR. The all-new Dakar challenger is based on the all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV, and the competition version is set to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show next month, following eight months of intensive work in Velizy, France, since the Dakar finish ramp in Rosario.
The 3008 DKR retains Peugeot’s two-wheel drive philosophy, following the 2008 breaking the 15 year dominance of AWD in Dakar competition.
“The new 3008 symbolises the next step,” said team director Bruno Famin. “Our goal with this car was to take the weaker points of the existing car and make them stronger, while capitalising on all the existing strengths to improve them still further. There are also some new regulations, which we obviously needed to comply with.”
Peugeot states that the new 3008 DKR improves on its predecessor in four key areas. The first of these is reliability. Peugeot states that its Peugeot Sport engineers went through every aspect of the car in fine detail in order to refine the package still further, focussing both on mechanical strength and electronic processes, such as engine management.
The 3008 DKR also displays improved driveability over the 2008 DKR. Peugeot Sport states it has ensured that the car’s 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbodiesel engine is ‘even more driveable’ for next year’s Dakar, by delivering greater torque at lower revs. Revised Dakar regulations have imposed a smaller restrictor on the engine (38mm as opposed to 39mm last year) with a net loss of around 20hp.
Another area in which Peugeot Sport engineers worked on improving the 2008 DKR was in regard to the suspension. The new 3008 DKR has revised geometry and dampers, allowing for a wider operating range on the many, varied surfaces of the multi-day rallies.
The 3008 also builds on the 2008 DKR’s driver comfort. Absent for the 2016 Dakar, but added for the Silk Way Rally, the 2008 DKR’s air conditioning system has also been improved to increase comfort during the crew’s 12 hour days, where they can be subject to cockpit temperatures in excess of 60 degrees centigrade.
Before the Dakar itself, Carlos Sainz will test the new PEUGEOT 3008 DKR in race mode against other Dakar competitors and Cyril Despres in the PEUGEOT 2008 DKR, during Morocco’s Rally in October (from October 3rd to 7th).
Click here to read our exclusive interview with Peugeot Sport’s team director, Bruno Famin, in the latest issue of Professional MotorSport World magazine.
