DEPPING Dieter DEU 07/08/1966 180 cm 79 kg

GOTTSCHALK Timo DEU 28/08/1974 178 cm 78 kg

Vehicle

MODEL	MAKE
TOUAREG	VOLKSWAGEN

RANKING

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Scratch	80	11	3	11	2	64	12	2	23	19	-	4	4	13
Stage	80	11	3	11	2	62	12	2	21	19	-	4	4	13	-	-
Overall	80	26	15	13	9	11	9	8	10	9	-	6	6	6	-	-

Dieter Depping: «If one attacks, one loses concentration »

Dieter Depping and Timo Gottschalk will compete on the Dakar as a team for the second time. In 2007, they finished 26th, but it was in a truck. “Ari Vatanen retired, and a car became available for us in the team,” recounts Dieter. “It’s not the same style of driving in a car. You are going twice as fast and the vehicle doesn’t necessarily have the same grip.”

The two have plenty of experience. Friends for the past ten years – they met while competing on rallies in Germany -, they have been a team for the last five years. “We know each other perfectly, I know everything about him”, Dieter explains. “He is fast on all types of surfaces; he knows when to accelerate, without being afraid and without showing signs of nervousness”, says co-driver Timo. This German duo made their reputation on the WRC, but Dieter knows the Dakar is something much different. “A rally stage is generally 20kms flat out. On the Dakar, a stage is more like 500 or 600kms. There is a lot more strategy in the driving. You don’t attack from the start because, if one attacks, one loses concentration. And on the Dakar, concentration is essential. »

A good car, experience, and a terrific atmosphere, all the ingredients look to be united to put in a mega performance. And the two both admit they are not competing on the Dakar to make up the numbers. “The Dakar is more of an adventure than a race. The goal is first to finish then to do as best you can”, concedes Timo. “But this year we are aiming for a top five result.”

Dakar start photos on line: www.maindruphoto.com

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