“Without the Dakar Challenge, I wouldn’t be at the start”

For Willem Du Toit, the Dakar was a dream. An inaccessible dream. After starting his motorsports career in offroad cars, he only recently switched to two wheels. His life changed on the finish line of the 2016 Amageza rally. Thanks to his fine performance there, the South African was offered a free entry to the big one, the Dakar… Since that moment his life as a car dealer in northern South Africa has slightly changed. Fully supported by his family and local community, Willem will be part of an adventure he’s been following as a youngster. The goal now is to stay focused and calm down his racing spirit...to eventually reach the finish line.

“Riding bikes doesn’t really run in my family. I first started racing about 5 or 6 years ago. I used to drive cars and compete in offroad races but I broke too many cars so I decided to switch to bikes. The Dakar is an event that I’d followed for as long as I can remember. I thought it was out of my reach. After winning the Dakar Challenge last year the opportunity showed up. Without the Dakar Challenge win, I probably wouldn’t have gone for it. It was too early to come last year so I fully focused on 2018. I started training hard at the beginning of the year, competing in the South-African off road championship. I’m from the desert so I’m used to the sand and the dunes. What worries me is the cold conditions and the altitude. I’m not quite sure what ambitions I have. I’m a racer but I first want to finish it.”