Dakar 2020: Alonso, on the starting ramp: From 'Recreation of Thrones' to the joys of Cdiz

The pilot of Toyota, nice attraction in Jeddah, from the place the first stage of the hardest rally in the world will begin.

• Interview.
  

  Sainz, in opposition to the cheats
  

• Alonso
  

  “I’m right here to take pleasure in and to end it”
  

Marc Coma, in cost of guiding his steps by the desert, has admitted that he had not even believed in such an journey. He would have thought it was a joke, he commented on Saturday the pentacampen of the Dakar Rally. However no. Fernando Alonso It doesn’t assist such licenses for any of its challenges. He didn’t do it with Toyota in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, nor will he do it in his new journey in the 500 Miles of Indianpolis, subsequent Might 24. Nor from Sunday in Saudi Arabia, regardless of the distinctive issue of the stake. I assume every thing with humility, but in addition with competitiveness, revealed Saturday in Jeddah, the starting level of the hardest rally in the world. The primary Dakar for one of the most full drivers of all time.

The difference week has been lengthy, devoted completely to that torrent of doubts that concern any beginner. Since December 28, after touchdown, Alonso has studied each nut of his automobile, each chunk of breakfast in the bivouac, each nook of the caravan the place to spend the night time below the chilly temperatures of the desert … It’s a sponge, used to inform your pal Carlos Sainz, favourite for the closing victory, the man destined to threaten the presumed dominance of Toyota, which additionally has pilots of the status of Nasser Al-Attiyah or Giniel de Villiers.

My classmates are right here to win and I to take pleasure in, Fernando slipped on Friday. Anybody who is aware of your aggressive genius can put these phrases into query. Even the identical couple of minutes later: In the second week of the race I can have extra confidence. The aim is to get into the chosen ones and end in the very best place.

Podium

On Saturday, on the Jeddah podium, Alonso shared the stage for the first time with a Dakar legend as Stephane Peterhansel, the different nice trick of Mini in opposition to Toyota. Already below the closed night time, the Spaniard slipped his Hilux, with the quantity 310, by a soulless podium that lacked the in style heat of the final South American editions. Half a thousand followers, at most, immortalized the scene. At the handshake with the authorities adopted the acquainted phrases of thanks.

The audio system then echoed a selected model of the foremost theme of Recreation of Thrones. And is that the group won’t miss the alternative to present the friendliest updates of its absolute monarchy. In case you have any questions, you must have seen that choreography of a classical dance couple below the chords of You may go away your hat on. A model of 9 weeks and a half below the new parameters of non secular fundamentalism. To comply with the occasion, a flamenco portray to the sound of some pleasure of Cdiz and an replace of the syntona of The implausible automobile. Indescribable.

4 espaolas

Exterior of these trivialities, the 12 collaborating ladies additionally paraded on the podium (solely 2.1% of the 571 protagonists). A charge, an minscula, with a particular Spanish accent: Laia Sanz, aspiring to top-10 on bikes; Cristina Gutirrez, candidate for top-25 in vehicles; Sara Garca, adventurous adventurous on the again of her Yamaha; Y Mnica Plaza, who at 24 years information his father by the dunes.

That navigation now appears an important issue, given the restrictions launched by David Castera, new director of the rally. In six of the 12 phases, the co-drivers won’t have the roadbook Till shortly earlier than departure. That is supposed to return to the authentic spirit of journey. At the moment in the Shara the place a despise might smash anybody. As well as, any gadget with GPS exterior the group can be requisitioned at the starting of every day and two cameras will watch the favorites with zeal. A conscientious campaign in opposition to cheats. They weren’t lacking.