MADRID, 1 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The KH-7 Epsilon Team reported this Sunday of “a dramatic change of scenery and expectations at the start of the Dakar 2023” due to the last-minute cancellation, by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), of the creation of the category T5.U Hydrogen, which was to bring together the trucks animated with this alternative fuel and the creation by ASO (organizer of the Dakar) of a new division called Challenge New Energy.
“This measure allows the Spanish team to officially stay in the race, but forces them to start all stages 15 minutes after the last participant and prevents them from providing assistance to other competitors in trouble during the route,” says the official team note. .
The team’s MAN KH-7 Epsilon is the first hydrogen-powered vehicle in history to start a Dakar. The experience of Jordi Juvanteny (pilot), José Luis Criado (co-pilot) and Jordi Ballbé (navigator) has come a long way since the project began in March.
The first setbacks came last December when the FIA reported by email that none of the hydrogen-related projects, except for the KH-7 Epsilon Team, was going to make it to the start of the Dakar, so it decided to postpone implementation. of the T5.U Hydrogen regulation.
After multiple number changes, the organization contacted the team already in the race to notify them that they were out of the FIA T5 category and had to compete within the framework of a newly minted division: the Challenge New Energy. The organization granted, yes, an alternative to Juvanteny, Criado and Ballbé to be able to return to the T5 division: renounce hydrogen and opt for traditional diesel.
The components of the KH-7 Epsilon Team decided to go ahead with their initial plans, although they are forced to start in all stages 15 minutes after the last participant and, furthermore, they will not be able to help any of their rivals in the official divisions.
“Our team has been the only one to comply, already in 2023, with part of the objectives of the Dakar Future program, which works on the future decarbonization of the competition from the use of fuels such as hydrogen. We were confident that other formations would have arrived this year, but it has not been possible. In any case, and despite the severe limitations of this new scenario, we will focus on the development of this new technology following the planned objectives”, said Juvanteny.