On the tracks of a masterstroke with one day to go

January 2 ^nd 2025 - 19:39 [GMT + 3]

. Now is the time to concentrate on racing, after months of preparation for the riders, drivers and crews who will be taking starter’s orders for the 47th edition of the Dakar and who have just completed technical and administrative scrutineering at the windblown site in Bisha (the official figures for starters will be published shortly).
. Each of the competitors has their own challenge, with title holder Carlos Sainz’s objective being to defend his crown, which would allow him to equal Nasser Al Attiyah’s number of five triumphs. However, the competition has never been as tough in the category, whether from the Dacias, Minis or 16 Toyota Hiluxes, led by Saudi flag-bearer Yazeed Al Rajhi, among others.
. In the bike race, the biggest challenge could be that faced by Adrien Van Beveren, which is to achieve overall victory on his tenth participation, while the SSV category will witness an intense battle between the Polaris armada led by Xavier de Soultrait and the Can-Am squad headed by the majestic ‘Chaleco’ López, who has accomplished an exemplary category switch since his initial spell on a motorbike.
. The former quad riders who have switched to the Challenger race, such as Alexandre Giroud or Nicolás Cavigliasso, could draw inspiration from the Chilean’s career change to try and win behind a steering wheel this time instead of handlebars.
. There are also new horizons in the truck category, especially in Team De Rooy who are welcoming the arrivals of both Aleš Loprais and Vaidotas Žala.
. New perspectives are also in line for the candidates for the ‘Saudi Next Gen’ operation, for whom assessment has already begun.
. Tomorrow, proceedings will kick off early in the morning for the bikers, who will set off at 7.45 local time for a 29-kilometre prologue, while the cars will set the ball rolling from 10.35.   

CARLOS SAINZ AIMS TO DRAW LEVEL
Carlos Sainz made his debut on the Dakar in 2006, two years after Nasser Al Attiyah. He was the first of the two to write his name on the roll of honour, in 2010, but the Qatari champion then overtook him and now boasts 5 trophies on his shelf. With his fourth triumph behind the wheel of a hybrid Audi last year, ‘El Matador’ is catching up and is aiming to draw level in the brand-new Ford Raptor that he will be driving for the M-Sport team. His rival of the last 18 years finds himself in a similar condition behind the wheel of a Dacia Sandrider and the 48 HR Chrono stage that will take place on the third day could prove to be decisive in this duel: “We need to complete the first week in a good position, which will be difficult because we will be without assistance on two occasions. For the strategy, last year I slowed down on the stage before and that allowed me to gain time on the 48 HR Chrono. However, this year there will be a 400-km stage before, so it is very difficult to calculate. Another difficulty is that we will have a lot of distance to cover without the bikes’ tracks on this Dakar. For the driver opening the way, it will be difficult and a handicap”. Tactics and speed will be at the heart of the matter and the title holder is well aware that he will have to be up to the task in both aspects in order to defend his crown. “With a new car, we are starting to write a new chapter. I’m reasonably confident with what I saw on the Rallye du Maroc. This is the most open edition that I have ever seen, with four constructors who are in the reckoning for the win. I hope we will all be battling for the prize”. To enhance the Raptor’s chances, Sainz will be backed up in the team by his countryman Nani Roma, his former Audi team-mate Audi Mattias Ekström and American Mitch Guthrie.

A LEGENDARY OCCASION FOR VAN BEVEREN?
This year, 11 bikers compose the very exclusive group of ‘Legends’, a status reserved for competitors who boast 10 Dakar rallies or more on their roll of honour. Štefan Svitko is the current record holder still riding with 16 participations, ahead of Francisco Arredondo (15), Emanuel Gyenes level with David Casteu (14) and Pablo Quintanilla (13), the most experienced of the official riders, yet who is not feeling the weight of years bearing down on him: “Honestly, I’m happy to be able to continue riding at this level. I’ve had ups and downs on the Dakar, with good results but also falls and injuries, but that’s just sport. However, I have what it takes to succeed and I’m really up for it”. Three factory riders will be joining the ranks of these Dakar die-hards: ‘Nacho’ Cornejo, Ricky Brabec and Adrien Van Beveren. For the title holder, his goal is to get back on track after a fall on the Rallye du Maroc: “In the end, it wasn’t my knee that I injured in Morocco but my shin. I had to take a break and have twelve screws inserted, but now I’m back here to race. All in all, I only lost one month, which isn’t too bad. I’m on top form”. For the Frenchman, obtaining Legend status also represents an opportunity to get rid of an unwanted record: none of the winners in the bike category has waited 10 years before taking the title. For the moment Nani Roma possesses the longest series: between his first appearance in 1996 and his victory in 2004, the Catalan took part 9 times, though this is not putting AVB off: “Physically, I’m stronger than I have ever been. I’ve really got the bit between my teeth and I don’t feel like my years on the bike are coming to an end. My career could have finished at least twice, but more than ever, I’m in a position to win”. Physical fitness will soon be an issue on this Dakar with a first week including the 48 HR Chrono stage shortly after the start as well as the marathon stage. For the beach boy from northern France, “having the 48-hour stage towards the beginning is not to my advantage, because the other riders won’t be that fatigued. Last year, I made it count on the same stage in the second week which we all began in certain states of tiredness. This time, we should all feel relatively fresh and I don’t think anyone is going to crack in physical terms”.

TOYOTA AND ITS LITANY OF PRETENDERS
Each day, Overdrive Racing will almost be setting up their own secure enclosure to welcome 16 Toyota Hilux vehicles. They may be decked out in different colours, but underneath the bodywork, they are the sole and same vehicle, which had become the reference in the Ultimate class until Carlos Sainz’s victory in an Audi last year. Yazeed Al Rajhi is the flag bearer for both the Belgian team and Saudi Arabia as he gets ready for his 11th Dakar, including one finish on the podium (3rd in 2022). In 2023, it was also the best performance for Lucas Moraes on his first participation on the rally-raid. The Brazilian has gone on to prove to be the emerging star in the Toyota clan, with a 3rd place in the W2RC in 2024. As a result, he is considered to be one of the favourites alongside his Saudi fellow Toyota driver: “It’s a bit crazy to find myself at this level,” he says. “It’s true that I’ve gained experience, but that’s necessary when you see that even drivers like Carlos Sainz or Nasser Al Attiyah took a while to triumph on the Dakar. So, I’m confident that I have a chance, but I’m beginning to grasp that the Dakar is very long. With this unusual route during the first week, strategy and caution will be the watchwords, while also staying in touch with the quickest drivers”. As for the South African school, Giniel De Villiers, Henk Lategan or Guy Botterill will also be in the reckoning for the final podium, as will Californian Seth Quintero. With this pack of leading elite drivers, the debut in the class of Rokas Baciuška could almost go unnoticed. After a series of podium finishes in the SSV and Challenger races, as well as three consecutive W2RC titles, the Lithuanian has entered the big league and Baciuška, in the position of outsider, could nonetheless shine: “It’s my first Dakar in the Ultimate class, but not the first time I’ve driven a Hilux because I’ve taken part in the Baja Aragon (2nd in the T1+ class) and Baja Hail (finishing 3rd). I have plenty of experience in the Challenger and SSV races, but this is totally different. I’ll be reassured after the prologue and first stage if we are in the top 20 because this edition of the Dakar looks like being the most open in the race’s history”.

THE AMERICAS DO BATTLE IN THE SSV CATEGORY
Having triumphed last year in the SSV category in a Polaris RZR Pro R, freshly introduced to the American market, now Xavier de Soultrait is witnessing Can-Am tackling the rally with a new vehicle which everybody is predicting to be the talk of the town: the Maverick R. The vehicle made its first appearance just several weeks before receiving official FIA approval on the Rallye du Maroc. Even though it did not make a striking mark in the rankings, it gave an impressive showing, particularly with a competitor returning to the category behind the wheel. ‘Chaleco’ Lopez, a former biker like De Soultrait and already a winner in the SSV category in 2019 plus twice in the Challenger category (2021-22), is one of the 4 official drivers of the Canadian Can-Am Factory model. The Frenchman, who drives for Sébastien Loeb Racing, is fair play in spirit and is happy to tackle such a rivalry: “What we did last year was exceptional. If we can do it again, it would be nothing short of outstanding. We’ve swelled the ranks of our team with Brock Heger, one of the best American drivers. Our rivals are also ramping up their preparation and I will be happy to be battling with ‘Chaleco’. Having a competitor of his class in the category is good for the race”. Heger is not the only American to be making his debut in the SSV race. For Can-Am Factory, there are two newly formed crews fully made in USA. Texan Hunter Miller is tasting the race for the first time with Andrew Short. Californian Sara Price, 4th last year on her first participation in the race, is returning alongside Sean Berriman, who triumphed in an SSV alongside Casey Currie in 2020. On paper, these newcomers are big shots, but Sara is well aware of the Dakar’s subtilities: “In the USA, a lot of people are attracted by the Dakar at the moment, but nobody had taken the plunge for a certain while. I tried my luck last year. I tackled the race with a humble approach and we managed to get a good result. It looks like that has given other people ideas. I know Brock Heger and my team-mate Hunter Miller very well. They have more experience than me in UTV in the USA, but on the Dakar it isn’t always the quickest driver who wins”.

A BIG CHANGE FOR ALEXANDRE GIROUD
Following Simon Vitse, who made the switch to the Ultimate class in 2021, and Nicolás Cavigliasso, who entered the Challenger class in 2023, this year it is the turn for Manuel Andújar and Alexandre Giroud to make the big leap from the quad to the car category. It has to be said that this was somewhat of a forced change for the two great rivals, since their former category has lost its place on the Dakar. For the Argentinean two times winner (in 2021 and 2024), he will be behind the wheel of a Can-Am SSV for the South Racing team. As for the Frenchman, also a double victor (in 2022 and 2023), he will be in the Challenger category driving an OT3 for the G Rally Team. “Quad racing is still my passion,” says Giroud. “What’s more, I’m still an official Yamaha quad rider for the rest of the season. However, after two triumphs and three podium finishes, it was time for a new challenge. The choice of the Challenger class couldn't have come at a better time”. Although he is not starting from scratch, Alexandre knows he will have a lot to learn this year. “I’ll be taking starter’s orders with lots of humility, but I still have the advantage of knowing the rally very well. I know better than others that the Dakar is a waiting game”. For his co-pilot, he has chosen Jeremy Jacomelli, a friend who has long been a member of his entourage: “I could have chosen an experienced co-pilot, but since I’ve previously done it all by myself, I prefer to keep an eye on the navigation. We’ve worked a lot with Jeremy so he knows just exactly what information to give to me”. For the rest, he underlines that it will be about enjoying himself: “This vehicle is like a big quad. There is a steering wheel instead of the handlebars and pedals, but I’ve always been on four wheels. It can skid around and gobble up obstacles”. With Manuel Andújar taking part in the SSV category, the Frenchman will not be directly doing battle with his eternal rival. However, he will be up against another Argentinean former quad race winner, namely Nicolás Caviglissio, who made the change two years earlier than him and finished last season in 2nd place in the class on the W2RC.

LOPRAIS AND ŽALA IN THE LAND OF THE TULIPS!
Team De Rooy is the ultimate Dutch team on the Dakar. Jan, the patriarch, won in 1987, then his son Gerard tasted victory in 2012 and 2016 before retiring from the cab to take on managing the team. Since then, the De Rooy trucks have again graced the top step of the podium thanks to Janus van Kasteren in 2023, but there has been a clear sea change this year. One of the Iveco Powerstar vehicles has been entrusted to Dutch driver Anja van Loon, who achieved a particularly encouraging 12th place for her first participation in the category last year, but the safest bet in the team to grab a trophy in Shubaytah lies with none other than Aleš Loprais. Indeed, the team’s former major Czech rival, who just missed out on triumph last year (finishing 2nd), decided to switch sides to once again try to conquer the title he has yet to obtain: “I’ve adopted a very different plan to previous races and I believe I can win. I know there are many possible scenarios on the Dakar, but I have a single and sole objective. I’m going to be patient during the first week, because you should always keep in mind that this race is a very long competition”. A sensational entrance in the heavyweight category could also be provided by a newcomer from Lithuania, who has also joined the team run by Gerard De Rooy, namely Vaidotas Žala, who often flirted with the top 10 during his 9 participations in the car category (achieving 11th overall in 2022), but who wanted a change of scenery and to see the race from a different perspective, in the literal sense: “I’ve always liked big trucks. Previously, to take the car from Lithuania to the departure port, I already took care of driving the truck transporting it. In recent years, when we had mechanical problems that left us stuck on the tracks, I saw trucks passing us and thought it would perhaps be a good idea to try out the rally in this category. They also have steering wheels, pedals and tyres, so it’s not massively different”. There is no doubt about his driving skills, but Žala cannot be sure of just how this will transfer to handling a ten-tonne vehicle. “I’m a little bit worried about the days with distances of 500 km, where we’ll have to be constantly on the attack, because it will be very physically demanding. The real test will be the prologue and the first stage, but I don't know where I stand in relation to the others. I feel like a junior and it's quite refreshing!”

SAUDI NEXT GEN: FOLLOWING THE CURVE
After an initial introduction to their SSVs yesterday, the five crews enrolled in the Saudi Next Gen academy benefitted from an approximately 75-kilometre portion of desert today. As with any apprenticeship, the head coach in charge of supervising them picked up on several errors, but Edo Mossi has the firm intention of assessing progress rather than skill level in order to identify the driver who could have a serious chance on the Dakar in the future. “On a scale of 1 to 10, I find somebody who starts at 9 to finish with a 10 less interesting than someone who leaps from 2 to 8! Two of them rolled the vehicle, but that by no means rules them out. What I see is that they especially have the desire to win with determination that I didn’t previously suspect”. Speaking of determination, Merehin Albaz is one of the two women taking part in the challenge and can hold her head high in comparison to her colleagues. A mechanic from Jeddah, driven by the memory of her recently deceased mother who encouraged her to believe in her dreams, she intends to show that she deserves her place on the Dakar: “My mother didn’t know how to drive, but it was she that taught me in secret, with my father unaware. It’s thanks to her that I’m here and over the last two days, I feel at home when I climb into this SSV, it’s like riding a bike. That said, it’s easy to get too confident and make a mistake. All in all, it’s great to be able to learn with this group and from such skilled people”.