January 1 always synonymous with the start for the Dakar, the legendary race. The 44th edition starts this Saturday from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for two weeks of competition. Two weeks of adventure for Sébastien Loeb, the nine-time world rally champion, at the start, but also for some fans of the Basque Country.
An Angloy, David Gaits, participates for the very first time in the motorcycle rally raid, riding a KTM 450 without assistance. He is an aeronautical technician on a daily basis. Employed for 20 years in the Safran Helicopter Engines factory in Tarnos in the Landes. Two Bayonnais are also in the game.
“Another Dakar”
The Duplé brothers, in the auto race. Cedric for his second Dakar, co-pilot of an SSV and Stéphane for his seventh Dakar, navigator of a good amateur pilot, Pierre Lachaume, who is aiming for a top 10. One of those amateur pilots who matter and who know how to play the trouble- parties among professionals. Stephane Duplé hitherto accustomed to the galleys will finally experience the race in the leading peloton.
“I had a very interesting proposal and I’m going upmarket. I’m going to accompany Pierre La Chaume, who is a Toulousain in the Team MD Rally, who has big two-wheel drive buggy with a V8. They are superb cars. , he’s a very efficient driver and with real ambitions to be in the top 15. So it’s a big challenge. I think I’m going to discover another Dakar because clearly, until now, I was rather used to coming home quite late. Especially since if we are not ranked in the first, we leave late in the morning but come back late at night. And then I think that can really change. Suddenly, to find ourselves better placed, to appear better, to go faster in the stages. Suddenly, I think and I hope, I touch wood, to have a little more time in the evening to benefit a little from the team and to- sides of this adventure. “
– Visactu