The current champion, the Spanish Carlos Sainz, assured that he will seek his third car title at the 2019 Dakar Rally that will take place between January 6 and 17 in Peru.
“The expectations are clear: try to repeat the victory and finish the race as high as possible,” Sainz, who will race his twelfth Dakar with compatriot Lucas Cruz as co-driver, told AFP.
«We are convinced that it is (to win again). But first you have to run and then celebrate, “said the Madrilenian, who will pilot a Mini Buggy with the number 300.
After presenting his team at a car shop in Lima, Sainz stated that his teammates are prepared to have a good race in the extreme dunes and deserts of Peru.
Sainz and the French Stéphane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres have achieved a total of 20 victories in the rally. They are considered Dakar legends.
“We have to be a little patient to have a good race. If it’s not me, a teammate of mine can give Mini this race, ”said the 56-year-old experienced driver.
Sainz, who won the Dakar in 2010 and 2018, confessed that he will have a lot of tension inside the car due to the great route of the Peruvian dunes and deserts that this edition represent 70% of the competition.
«The race will be with dunes every day. This implies that you will not decide until the end, because at any moment a problem can come: getting stuck or falling a hole. Until the last day there will be tension, “he explained.
– Fight in the race –
“The expectation is to fight in the best possible way in the race. The team is the favorite, ”French driver Cyril Despres, who will race with the 308 car, also told AFP.
«In the Mini team there is a lot of level. We are going to develop the race and do the kilometers to win the title ”, commented the five-time Dakar winner after qualifying the route as very hard.
Before the presentation of the Mini team in Lima, the pilots released their stress by playing jenga and got on a motorcycle taxi on the beaches of Magdalena, where the official competition vehicles are parked.
The rally will start on Sunday from a podium that will be installed on a beach in the Magdalena district of Lima, where thousands of spectators are expected to attend.
In its 5,000 kilometers, the Dakar will travel through Lima and the southern regions of Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna, the latter bordering Chile.
The toughest stage for each car and truck will be the 370-kilometer marathon between Arequipa and Tacna, on the fifth day (January 10).
The Dakar will take place for the fourth time in Peru, although the 2019 version will be run only in this country. Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile declined to be part of the test for reasons of austerity. AFP