N°174 Bike 7240 TEAM / DRAGON RALLY SERVICE
driver
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MANUEL ANDUJAR

(arg) 1.83m / 82kg

Hobbies

Andar en motos, cuatriciclos y camionetas. Ir a la cancha a alentar a Boca Juniors, club del que es fanático. Tiene en su quinta seis labradores, un dogo presa canario llamado “Dakar” y una burra “Ofelia”.

Sponsors

Equipo 7240, 7240 Blindajes, Pablo Vera Raid School.

2023: Quad/ Abandono en la Etapa 11 (3 victorias de etapa)
2022: Quad/ Abandono en la Etapa 6
2021: Quad/ 1º (2 victorias de etapa)
2020: Quad/ 4º
2019: Quad/ 5°
2018: Quad/ 29º

2023: Desafio Ruta 40 (1º) / Rallye du Maroc (3 victorias de etapa, abandono). W2RC: 5º
Compitió en la categoría Q1 en algunas fechas del CaNav.
2022: 1º en la categoría Quads en el Rally de Marruecos; 7º en la categoría Quads Q1 del CaNav.
2021: Campeón en la categoría Quads de la Copa del Mundo FIM de Rallies Cross Country: 1º en el Rally de Kazajistán, 1º en el Rally dos Sertoes, 1º en el Rally de Marruecos, 3º en Abu Dhabi.
2019: 3° en la categoría Quads Q1 del Campeonato Argentino de Navegación CANAV.
2018: 7º en la categoría Quads 4x2 del CARCC; 9º en la General de la Categoría Quads del Desafío Ruta 40.
2017: 6º en la categoría Quads en el Rally de Merzouga

Interview

“I want to bring both titles back to Argentina”

Manuel Andújar has experienced Dakar glory with his quad victory in 2021, which is probably why he also knows how to accept defeat and emerge stronger in search of new and more ambitious goals. In 2023, while third overall, he suffered engine failure at kilometre 70 of stage 11 and could not continue. It was his second consecutive Dakar retirement, which affected the outcome of his W2RC season, which had its best moment with the victory in the Desafío Ruta 40. Looking back over his racing career, Manuel Andújar began in quadcross when he was 18, competing in the USA and Argentina for three years. Later, and searching for new challenges, he decided to venture into rally raid. He knew he had the pace and speed, but he had to master navigation. He made his Dakar debut in 2018, finishing 29th, and the year after he finished fifth. In 2020, he finished fourth in the Saudi Arabian dunes. With great determination, working long hours on the road maps and with psychological preparation, he took on the 2021 Dakar. He took the overall lead on stage 7 and dedicated himself to containing Giovanni Enrico to secure the win. Manuel shed tears on the final ramp and received the Touareg trophy draped in the colours of the Argentinean flag and his beloved football club, Boca Juniors. In 2021, "Manu" won almost every event he raced - three victories and a P3 - and the World Championship in the quad category, ahead of the legendary Rafal Sonik. Dakar glory has not changed the life of this rider from the interior of the province of Buenos Aires, in the heart of the Argentinean Pampas. Manuel has an uncomplicated demeanour, follows Boca everywhere he goes, devotes hours and hours of care to his donkey Ofelia and his dog Dakar, and even makes time for public service, spearheading a helmet awareness campaign for motorcyclists in his hometown. Although he says his main goal is the Dakar, the native of Lobos is going for it all and wants to win both the race and the championship for his country.


M.A.: “Last year's Dakar was a very close race, with a lot of dangerous rocky terrain, which caused the vehicles to suffer a lot in the early stages, resulting in a lot of wear and tear towards the end of the rally. Leaving aside my mechanical problem, I think the Dakar was interesting. I was able to draw a lot of conclusions and prepare myself better for what was to come. The disappointing Dakar result complicated my continuity in the W2RC, but I was a contender in the two events I did and could try several things for 2024".
"To race the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina, a race on a par with or - in my opinion - superior to the Dakar, is wonderful. I think it will be a welcome addition to the calendars of the competitors who truly love this sport. Winning it was a unique feeling. Morocco? It's always tough to drop out when you're doing well. But the good news is that it gives us a general parameter of where we are and what we need to improve. The main and indisputable objective is going to be the Dakar. We are going for everything. I want to take the two titles back to Argentina and show the level we are riding here”.

Vehicle

7240 TEAM / DRAGON RALLY SERVICE

YAMAHA RAPTOR 700
DRAG'ON RALLY TEAM

  • YAMAHA
  • RAPTOR 700
  • Drag’on Rally Team
  • Drag’on Rally Team
  • Quad

Ranking 2024

All news of M. Andujar

Summary - 19/01 17:53 [GMT +3]

Dakar 2024: Brabec and Sainz, masters of the dunes

The 46th edition of the Dakar, the 5th to be organised in Saudi Arabia, has finished after more than 4,700 kilometres of specials and a total distance of almost 8,000 kilometres, which tested the riders, drivers, co-pilots and crews, from the ancient city of AlUla to the shores of the Red Sea, passing through the oceans of dunes in the Empty Quarter. The major winners of the 2024...

Reactions - 19/01 11:02 [GMT +3] - Bike

Manuel Andújar: “It was a really tough race”

Manuel Andújar has reacquainted himself with victory following two years in which he did not reach the finish.

“It was really tough, really tough after two years of not finishing. For me, it’s impressive to be here one more time. We’ve been battling since stage number four. On every stage there has been no more than one minute...

Newsflashes - 18/01 12:44 [GMT +3] - Bike

Giroud leads the quads after 228 km

After 228 km, Alexandre Giroud has a lead of 35’’ over Manuel Andújar. The Argentinean is still in the lead in the virtual general rankings, with an advantage of 8’16’’ over the Frenchman.

Reactions - 17/01 16:59 [GMT +3] - Bike

Manuel Andújar: "I broke my footboard at km 300"

After losing a few minutes to Alexandre Giroud on the road from Ha'il to AlUla, Manuel Andújar went back to his winning ways in stage 10. The Argentinian is now 8'51" ahead in the overall.

 

"A good day, I think we were fast with the team, but we had a problem, I broke my footboard at km 300, so I had to wait, repair and continue...

News - 17/01 13:44 [GMT +3]

Dakar 2024 - Stage 10 | All the results

MOTO | Brabec victory caps Honda 1-2-3

Ricky Brabec has grabbed his first stage win in this Dakar and extended his overall lead over Ross Branch, who came in seventh at 3′45″. Nacho Cornejo was second at 2 seconds and Adrien Van Beveren third at 20. VBA escorted Brabec at the front of the race today, a task that will fall upon Nacho tomorrow. Sherco's...

Newsflashes - 17/01 10:53 [GMT +3] - Bike

Andújar gains the upper hand

Andújar is striking back following his defeat at Giroud's hands yesterday. The Argentinian leads the Frenchman by 2′39″ at km 91, with Juraj Varga third at 4′12″ and Laisvydas Kancius fourth at 7′06″. The Albiceleste enjoys an 8′52″ margin in the overall. The France-Argentina match could go to penalties!

Newsflashes - 16/01 10:20 [GMT +3] - Bike

Giroud gains ground

After 135 km, Alexandre Giroud has increased his lead over Manuel Andújar to 3’55’’. In the virtual general rankings, the Frenchman now has a lead of over 7’31’’ over the Argentinean!

News - 15/01 13:31 [GMT +3]

Dakar 2024 - Stage 8 | All the results

RALLY GP | KEVIN BENAVIDES WINS!

Adrien Van Beveren has come up short in the last 10 kilometres in the battle with Kevin Benavides who has grabbed his second victory this year after his first on stage 3.

RALLY 2 | NOAH WINS THE RALLY 2 CLASS

Harith Noah has produced the best time in the Rally 2 class and, as a result, the Indian has picked up...

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