New expectations for Seaidan

While all eyes in Saudi Arabia are set on local hero Yazeer Al Rajhi, his compatriot Yasir Seaidan could be one of the good surprises of the next Dakar. The driver from Riyad witnessed his first Dakar in 2014. While he had initially planned to compete in the 2015 edition, an opportunity showed up thanks to the Polaris Racing team and he therefore discovered the event a year earlier. Sadly the first adventure of the 43-year-old from Riyad ended as soon as stage 5. After driving a RZR 900 Polaris through the deserts of South America, Seaidan returned to the Dakar in a completely different vehicle, a Toyota VDJ200 that he managed to take to 39th spot overall, finishing 3rd of the T2 class. After a four year absence, Seaidan is back and is far more ambitious. The Saudi will be behind the steering wheel of a Mini All4Racing prepared by the X-Raid team and after testing out several co-drivers will finally have at his side Frenchman François Cazalet. For his third Dakar Seaidan has the speed and will now have the advantage of knowing the different types of terrain having competed in the Saudi off-road championship including the Al Ula Neom and Qassim rallies that take place on parts of the country that the Dakar will visit.