On motorcycles, Santolino, Barreda and Schareina aspire to finish with KTM
MADRID, 4 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The 2024 Dakar Rally starts its engines this Friday, January 5, in its fifth edition in Saudi Arabia, the 46th edition in total, to face almost 5,000 kilometers timed in twelve stages plus a prologue of an untamed route, the wildest seen so far. in Saudi sand, and with Carlos Sainz (Audi) and a trio of bikers made up of Santolino, Barreda and Schareina who will try to dominate the toughest rally in the world.
From January 5 to 19, the Dakar Rally will experience a total of 4,727 timed kilometers and 7,891 kilometers of total route (adding links) between Alula and Yanbu through the desert of Saudi Arabia, with the already famous and feared by all 'Empty Quarter' and a new 48-hour marathon stage that will delight fans and could be a new nightmare for those hoping to climb to the top of the podium in Yanbu.
This fifth edition of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia may be the toughest and most demanding, with more dunes and navigation on a fast course. Or what is the same, several traps to avoid. And a labyrinth in the desert and vast 'Empty Quarter' that also hosts that new double marathon stage from which some might not leave.
And, after a hard and very fast first part, after the rest day in Riyadh, a second part of the race is expected, until reaching the finish line, with navigation in a variable terrain that will not allow the riders to rest a single day. contenders for the title, whether by car, motorcycle, quad or truck.
NEW 48 HOUR TRAP AND ENGINE STOPPING
The organization, and its race director, David Castera, continue to look for new formats to surprise and improve the race. On this occasion, the 46th Dakar Rally will have a new 48-hour trap, in a marathon stage format that is longer than ever over two days, although the drivers will be able to help each other in the afternoon.
The new thing is that on this occasion they will not be able to choose their dining room or workshop companions, since pilots and crews will be distributed among eight different bivouacs. When the clock strikes 4:00 p.m., all vehicles will be required to stop at the next campsite they arrive at. Without connection, without knowing results and without technical assistance before resuming the race at 7:00 a.m. the next day.
In the immense 'Empty Quarter', this new 48-hour time trial stage will have two separate routes: one for motorcycles and quads and another for cars and trucks, so there will be no possible advantage for four-wheeled vehicles or those with Do not open a track, giving more value if possible to navigation.
GOOD TEAM OF SPANISH CANDIDATES
In motorcycles, in principle there will be three Spaniards who can dream high. This is Tosha Schareina, who has signed for the official Honda team and, after achieving two thirteenth places in her first two Dakars, she is going for it. And even more so after winning the Baja Aragón and finishing fifth in the Morocco Rally, the great prelude to this Dakar Rally.
Veteran Joan Barreda must also be taken into account, who at 40 years old leaves Honda and immerses himself fully in Hero's new adventure. He will look to improve on fifth place overall and add more stage wins to reach, or surpass, the record of 33 stage wins held by Stéphane Peterhansel or Cyril Despres.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo Santolino sets the Top 5 as his goal. The Sherco driver, sixth overall in 2021, is already experienced and was ninth last year. A regular in the Top 10, he will try to improve and compete with the KTM, the big favorites with Toby Price and Luciano Benavides, although the GasGas brand (owned by KTM) will try to be an alternative to the victory with Sam Sunderland and Daniel Sanders.
In cars, without a doubt, the 'Matador' Carlos Sainz and his Audi are the great Spanish asset. The man from Madrid is looking for his fourth Dakar – after the triumphs of 2010, 2018 and 2020 – with an Audi RS Q e-tron that wants to aspire to everything but that, with so much complexity and electricity, can be somewhat complicated to manage. In any case, they will go out to battle with Toyota, with Ford and, above all, with the new Prodrive Hunter of the current champion, the Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Sainz does not start as a big favorite and this could benefit him if he emerges successfully from so many Saudi traps. The spotlight is on Al-Attiyah, with its own structure within Prodrive and with that Hunter who, in the hands of Sébastien Loeb, won seven stages (nine in total for the car) in the last round.
The departure of Al-Attiyah from Toyota Gazoo Racing means that the Japanese firm loses its great asset, but they have signed the Brazilian Lucas Moraes, third in his debut in the Dakar with an Overdrive Toyota Hilux, and Seth Quintero, one of the rally stars in the T3 category, runner-up in 2023.
And with a Toyota Hilux T1+, the Spaniard Isidre Esteve will also be on the starting line, with 18 Dakars behind him and with the Repsol Toyota Rally Team he will try to finish close to the Top 10, with renewable fuel and the same enthusiasm and ambition as always. , ready to improve his great performance from last year, when a mechanical failure prevented him from being closer to the lead.
In Audi Sport, in addition to Carlos Sainz, driving his electrified RS Q e-tron, there will also be 'Monsieur Dakar' Stéphane Peterhansel and the Swede Mattias Ekström. Meanwhile, at Ford, one of the new developments, they trust in the experience of Joan 'Nani' Roma who, having overcome cancer (his personal tune-up) and after a year of absence, wants to enjoy the Saudi dunes again.