“A small mistake can ruin everything”
CREW FACTS…
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- This last decade Shinsuke Umeda has managed to combine his extremely demanding work to his passion. The Japanese is indeed a surgeon back home in Japan and spends most of his free time behind the steering wheel of a racing car.
- His passion takes him to race circuits in a touring car but also wide-open deserts in an SSV like those of Saudi Arabia on the Dakar. Born in Fukuoka, he first competed in the Mongolia Rally back in 2016. Since then, he has travelled the world from Russia to Africa and of course the Middle East.
- He first took part in the Dakar three years ago and managed to reach the finish of the event in a Polaris SSV prepared by Xtremeplus. Since then, he has fnished all of his three Dakar rallies, the last one being with Italian codriver Maurizio Dominella (20th overall).
- For his fourth appearance the 46-year-old will be competing with a newcomer on his right: French co-driver Paul Duramé
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- Paul Duramé’s life is turned around the world of racing. Not only has he become a full-time co-driver, he also started an online e-commerce shop selling racing gear.
- Born in Dieppe, Normandy, he started competing as a co-driver on French asphalt rallies. He turned to cross-country rallies three years ago sharing a cockpit with numerous drivers in various vehicles.
- His talent as a navigator and mechanic caught the eye of Marco Piana owner of the Xtremeplus team during the last Albania Rally and he was offered a spot for the next Dakar.
- For his first appearance on the Dakar, the 27-year-old based in the Somme area of France will be living his childhood dream alongside Japan’s Shinsuke Umeda.
- The young Frenchman has thoroughly prepared for this Dakar by spending hours with his team’s mechanics to know the Polaris by heart and be able to repair incidents if they occur in order to reach the finish line of his first Dakar.
AMBITION 2025
S.U.: “I was 11 years old when I first discovered and loved the Dakar, watching the Mitsubishi team on TV. My first Dakar was in 2022 and I keep fond memories of the dunes at night that were so beautiful and terrifying. The Dakar really represents a childhood dream.
Considering the results of the W2RC2023, I could have aimed for a higher position in the 2024 Dakar, but I may have driven a little too cautiously. However, I think it is a satisfactory result because I was able to finish without receiving a stage penalty for the third consecutive year. In Dakar, a small mistake can ruin everything.
In September, I participated in TransAnatolia in Turkey with Paul Duramé to check the machine. There are no major changes but the reliability of each part has improved significantly, so I think we can push a little harder in this year's Dakar. I try not to worry too much about the ranking during the rally. It's more important to keep a lifelong memory of the magnificent scenery we go through. My codriver Paul is still young but I think he will be a legend in 10 years, and I'm proud to be his first Dakar partner.”
P.D.: “I was contacted by Marco Piana, head of Xtremeplus who had seen a video of me navigating and repairing and SSV during the Albania Rally. He offered a place for the Dakar. I first did the Transanatolia Rally with Umeda to see how we got along and it went well.
The Dakar is of course a dream, but it was a childhood dream and wasn’t imaginable. This year was the turning point. I was asked to do the Dakar by several teams and I even have offers for the 2026 Dakar. I never could have imagined that. My mind isn’t already focused on the rally but once I get to the airport, it’ll be like living a dream, like a child in a toy store.
Shinsuke is fairly discreet, he’s super nice. We managed to set up a notes’ system and we communicate in English. He’s a great driver to have for my first Dakar and I’m not competing in any random team, I’m lucky to be a part of Xtremeplus.
The objective is to reach the finish. We’re not aiming at a position because it really depends on the others. Top 20 like last year (for Umeda) would be beautiful.
I’m not the kind of person who gets worried. I know I’ll have to deal with sleep issues and fatigue.”
