“The Touareg is my goal, but it's not an obligation”

2023 will mark Gerard Farrés'16th Dakar appearance, his fifth behind the wheel of an SSV. The veteran from Manresa has been a regular on the toughest rally in the world for years and is one of those special characters that rally-raids produce. He made his debut on a bike in 2006 when the Dakar was still an African adventure, and he finished top rookie of the 119 riders that year. He has always been a team player and was a rapid assistance rider for Marc Coma and Chaleco Lopez, from whom he learned the law of the desert. In 2017, he made history by finishing third for the first time with the private Spanish team HIMOINSA in an almost impossible feat and with his eternal smile after a tough battle until the final metres of the last special stage. But destiny led him to four wheels in 2019, when he made his debut with an unexpected second place in the SSV category. Since then, he has established himself within the South Racing Can-Am team, and last year he came within a whisker of his first outright victory. But a series of circumstances meant that he again had to settle for the second step on the podium. The Spanish rider also has a co-driver representation agency. The fruit of this is his relationship with Diego Ortega Gil -a former quad rider and mechanical engineer by profession- with whom he made his debut on the right-hand side for the first time on the Prologue stage of the 2022 Dakar, which has paid off. In their second year as a duo, they finished runner-up in the Rally Andalucía, and they are ready, with pace and enthusiasm. The objective can only be to fight for victory in Saudi Arabia. However, it will depend on the role assigned to them by South Racing to be able to dream of that much-desired official victory.

G. F: “I am excited to continue with the team that has given me everything. It will be my fifth year with South Racing after taking my second podium with them and coming very close to victory in 2022. The SSV has changed my mentality a lot compared to my time on a bike; I was never afraid of it, but I had a lot of respect for the challenge and the danger of this rally. Being in a T4, I can focus more on driving and enjoying the competition. It will never be like motorcycling, which has always been my passion, but I am having a great time. And I am still competitive”.
“Ever since I made my debut in 2006, I have dreamed of winning the Touareg, and I know I will do it. It is my goal, but it is not an obligation either. I know I can do it. I will put all my dedication and work with the mechanics and my co-driver to good use so that one day, I can achieve it. I am with the team for this edition. And I am grateful for another opportunity to do the Dakar. Diego and I have worked hard this season, and we are now prepared fully for a new adventure”.


D. O. G.: “My dream was always to do the Dakar on a quad, but when I saw that it wasn't going to happen due to the lack of sponsors and budget, I accepted an offer from José Antonio Hinojo to partner with him as co-driver. And that was the beginning of this new adventure for me. Last year in November, I wasn't with a team, and I contacted Gerard. I was surprised when he told me I would race with him in South Racing. The Prologue was the first time we got in the car together... and it wasn't bad at all! We were left with a bittersweet feeling last January, but very happy with the Dakar we did and for showing how competitive we are. We know more opportunities will come, and we want to fight for everything again this year. We have prepared with desire and enthusiasm, and we're not ruling anything out. We are going to give it our best shot”.