N°218 Car 212 HANWEI MOTORSPORT TEAM

WEI HAN

(chn) 1.74m / 70kg

Hobbies

Running, driving, travelling

Sponsors

212, 3W, JACKERY, HanWei Motorsport, TOP1, BFGoodrich, K-MAN

2023: 8th (1st T1.2)
2022: 37th
2021: 18th
2020: 10th
2019: 27th

2023: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (6th)
2022: Dahaidao Super Endurance Race (1st)
2021: Dahaidao Super Endurance Race (1st)
2019: Taklimakan Rally (6th), Silk Way Rally (2nd)
2018: Taklimakan Rally (1st), Rallye du Maroc (14th)
2017: Taklimakan Rally (5th), Silk Way Rally (3rd)
2016: Taklimakan Rally (1st), Silk Way Rally (6th)
2015: Taklimakan Rally (1st), China Silk Road Rally (3rd)
2014: China Grand Rally (2nd)

Interview

"There's no more radical way to test a new car!"

Wei Han is nothing less than the most successful Chinese driver of all time on the Dakar. Born in Zhejiang on the country's east coast, he has a long-cherished passion for motorsport. In 2008, he set up the eponymous HanWei Motorsport team, now one of the most experienced elite racing outfits in China. He went on to become one of the most decorated performers on the national offroad scene, with a host of wins at prestigious events such as the Taklimakan Rally and the Dahaidao Super Endurance Race. Having also taken part in major international rallies such as the Silk Way -where he secured podium finishes in 2017 and 2019- Wei was naturally drawn to the biggest beast of them all, the Dakar, in 2019. Three years earlier, in 2016, he met renowned French driver Philippe Gache, founder of the SMG team, who provided him with a two-wheel drive buggy for his Dakar debut in Peru. After getting to grips with the world's toughest rally in 2019, Wei powered his way to 10th place overall on the first Saudi edition in 2020, setting a new Chinese record in the process. Never a man to rest on his laurels, the 51-year-old continued to push the boundaries in his SMG buggy. Hindered by mechanical issues in 2021 and heavy penalties in 2022, he roared back to claim a brilliant eighth place at Dakar 2023, also topping the T1.2 class for two-wheel drive cars. Having improved his own national record, and with the sense that he has explored the limits of what he can achieve in a buggy, Wei has taken the bold step of trading his tried-and-tested SMG for a T1+ Red-Lined Nissan for Dakar 2024. He and co-driver Li Ma are therefore preparing for a leap into the unknown, having also driven a buggy to sixth overall at this year's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. They acknowledge that it will be hard to improve on last year's showing, but they're still hoping the HanWei Motorsport team can enjoy a successful spin around Saudi Arabia, especially with China's top female driver Xiangyan Sun coming on board for her Dakar debut.


W.H.: "Finishing eighth overall at Dakar 2023 was a reward for all our long-term hard work. As well as driving and co-driving without big mistakes, we also needed a strong assistance team to ensure success on this rally. Since the emergence of T1+, our two-wheel drive car has completely lost its speed advantage, so we had to rely on steady measures to move forward step by step! When you run out of spare tyres in the first few stages, you're so scared that you drive to the finish line very carefully indeed. For me, those were the lowest moments of the entire Dakar. The SMG buggy is a very good racing car, but I wanted to see whether a T1+ would bring us better track times, so I have chosen Red-Lined as my new partner. I've been trying to get used to four-wheel drive, and there's no more radical way to test a new car than by taking it to the Dakar! I think it will be difficult to surpass eighth place. Of course, Li Ma is a very good co-driver, and I enjoy hearing his voice on the stages. Xiangyan Sun is also a very good driver, especially for her ability to drive in the desert. She has performed very well in the Taklimakan Rally, and I believe she will make a good Dakar debut. The Dakar is the biggest moment of the year for our domestic offroad drivers and enthusiasts. I always receive a lot of blessings and attention, as well as consideration and support from local government. In short, I feel a strong sense of happiness."

L.M.: "Dakar 2023 was a perfect race for me. We'd been working towards a top-10 finish, and we were very happy to achieve this goal. I've always been fond of motorsport. I gradually came into contact with professional racing through repairing vehicles, and fell in love with this sport. Wei Han and I have a very harmonious relationship in racing. Wei has very rich experience, and his understanding of cars and events has been of great help to me. I hope we can go as smoothly as last year and achieve even better results!"

Vehicle

212 HANWEI MOTORSPORT TEAM

RED-LINED REVO T1+
HANWEI MOTORSPORT TEAM

  • RED-LINED
  • REVO T1+
  • HanWei Motorsport Team
  • HanWei Motorsport Team
  • T1+: Prototype Cross-Country Cars 4x4

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