NINGJUN Lu CHN 10/11/1957

HENNINOT Serge FRA 04/01/1957 188 cm 85 kg

Vehicle

MODEL	MAKE
SMG V8	BUGGY

RANKING

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Scratch	63	144	85	78	95	42	-	64	41	-	-	-	60	65
Stage	63	144	85	78	95	40	108	64	40	-	-	92	60	65	-	-
Overall	63	141	113	112	98	83	89	99	66	-	-	68	65	64	-	-

Serge Henninot : « Lu only speaks Chinese»

Decidedly, good news never arrives on its own. In mid-December, two weeks before the start, driver Eric Vigouroux was offered a drive in the Dakar USA team of Robby Gordon and set off with regular co-driver - and his best man at his wedding - Alexandre Winocq. Three days later, it was the turn of his other best man, Serge Henninot to receive a last minute call, just ten days ahead of the start! The reason for his arrival? The defection of Alexandre Winocq, who was already entered in the Gache team with Chinese driver, Lu Ningjun.

So, here you have a team that has never worked together and which will have to improvise during the rally. “Fortunately, we already no one another a little bit”, assures Serge Henninot. He is competing this year in his eighth Dakar and has dedicated his last four participations to coaching Chinese drivers for Mitsubishi. “Lu had already proposed doing it with him.”

While Lu Ningjun is the most experienced Chinese driver on the Dakar (this is his fifth year in the rally), the South American edition promises to be difficult. “Lu only speaks Chinese, while I don’t speak this language”, warns Serge. “My co-driver indications will be very limited. We have defined a few vital words: danger, attention, right, left, there won’t be much more than that. And we might install a sign on the dashboard with three danger levels, which I can point to if I need to.” With these limitations, the duo’s goal is simple: “go all the way, nothing more.”

Dakar start photos on line: www.maindruphoto.com

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