“First Indian to drive a car in Dakar”
CREW FACTS…
S.T.
- When it comes to motorsports, Sanjay Takale is a pioneer in India. He started doing motocross back in the eighties before switching to traditional rallies in cars becoming an Asia-Pacific Production Cup champion. On the World scene, he even competed in events of the World Rally Championship.
- Born in Manguri, next to Pune in Maharashtra where he now lives, the 56-year-old who still is involved in rallying has decided to do the Dakar.
- He will therefore become the first Indian to take part in the event in a car. Registered in Dakar Classic, he will have at his side Maxime Raud who will act as his coach and navigator. The goal is first of all to learn from this unique experience.
M.R.
- Maxime Raud will be living quite an adventure for his third Dakar. The young Frenchman will indeed have the task of mentoring and navigating Sanjay Takale a pioneer in Indian motorsports who takes on the Dakar for the first time.
- The 32-year-old from Bordeaux has become familiar with the Dakar after competing two times with his father Philippe, a veteran of the Dakar. He was even present Place de l’Etoile to wave his dad goodbye when the rally started in Paris back in 2001.
- Sadly his two experiences in the T2 class ended early.
- An expert mechanic who knows the Toyota LandCruiser he will compete in by heart, Maxime will have to focus on navigation and especially the pace of his rookie driver in this regularity rally where average speed counts more than anything.
AMBITION 2025
A.K.: “The Dakar always fascinated me. It is the biggest, longest and the most challenging rally of all the rallies in the World. I’ll be the first Indian to drive a car in Dakar.”
