N° 320 - TEAM S.M.G
- MAGNALDI
- Thierry
- FRA
- 13/10/1962
- 180 cm
- 72 kg
|
- LENEVEU
- Guy
- FRA
- 30/06/1950
|
| MODEL |
MAKE |
| SMG PORSCHE |
BUGGY |
 |
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
| Scratch |
16
|
18
|
22
|
24
|
91
|
10
|
16
|
23
|
49
|
22
|
-
|
29
|
11
|
11
|
| Stage |
16
|
18
|
22
|
24
|
91
|
10
|
16
|
23
|
48
|
21
|
-
|
28
|
11
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
| Overall |
16
|
14
|
18
|
20
|
51
|
34
|
32
|
38
|
30
|
25
|
-
|
22
|
22
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
Thierry Magnaldi: “I start over from nothing”
He’ll be taking part in his 17th Dakar but it’s like if everything was starting over again. Thierry Magnaldi, yet a talented driver, has witnessed quite a few upsets and disappointments these last two years. When awkward reasons prevented him from driving for the Volkswagen team, he started an ironic desert crossing after having almost tamed the event and its African traps by finishing 2nd on a bike in 1999 and 8th in a car in 2006. He comes back now behind the steering wheel of a Gache buggy, with the same enthusiasm. “I remained for two years without driving… Now it’s like starting over from nothing”. It was at the beginning of November that things started clicking for the Var area driver, thanks to a call from Philippe Gache. “He needed a driver with references. He made a huge effort and I helped out for the budget. It’s a very stressful end to the year but that’s the Dakar: you have to be able to face everything to take part”. Between the good news and the reorganisation of his agenda to take part, once again, to the race of his life, Thierry hasn’t had the time to study the course: “I know that we’re starting at Buenos Aires, that we finish there and that there will be a rest day at Valparaiso”, he says, excited by the idea of coming back to battle it out. “I will discover the course as it comes. I keep a fond memory of the Lima-Rio rally that I had finished 4th in 1990”. Aware that the altitude will have a key role, that the sand isn’t the same than in Africa, he expects to witness an open race: “There will first of all be a race in the race between the buggies. 10 to 15 buggies will be fighting it out. The car is reliable. There’s the knowledge of the team, mine in terms of managing such a race and that of Guy Leneveu as a co-driver. All that makes up for a good cocktail. You have to believe in your star”.
Dakar start photos on line: www.maindruphoto.com