Photo: Vaidotas Žala – Teltonika Racing
Lithuanian Rally and Dakar Rally driver Vaidotas Žala will compete in the 2023 Dakar Rally with the Prodrive “BRX Hunter T1+” car, which was the fastest in three stages in last year’s Dakar Rally. Žala will start with his supporter Teltonika Racing colors, but the maintenance and logistics of the machine will be handled by the BRX team of the Prodrive factory. Let us remind you that in the 2022 Dakar Rally, Žala, competing with the “Mini John Cooper Works Rally” car, achieved his best result (11th place). Meanwhile, Loeb won 2nd place in this year’s Dakar Rally with the BRX Hunter T1+.
Loeb in this year’s Dakar Rally
Žala, who was able to win the first stage of the 2020 Dakar Rally, revealed that Prodrive was the most realistic option among the available cars, because only two years later, participating in the Dakar Rally, they were already able to win both stages and fight for victory in the absolute in the test. The Lithuanian also added that the fact that the nine-time WRC champion Sebastian Loeb is driving as part of their factory team speaks for Prodrive’s strength.
Sebastian Loeb
Zala revealed that he was impressed by the Prodrive Hunter’s capabilities after the first small tests in Dubai. “After the tests, the car left a very big and pleasant impression on me, so when the tests ended, I had a big smile on my face. I am sure that the 2023 Dakar will be the most interesting rally in my career. The difference between T1 and T1+ is very big.”
The Lithuanian expressed his joy that he will have the same car as the other drivers of the BRX team. “After the tests, I realized that, yes, this is the car we need, so all that was left at that time was to find the funds. After half a year, we succeeded. It is a great pleasure that I will have at my disposal the exact same car as Loeb (the other team pilots are not yet officially known), which will give me a huge opportunity to fight for high results. This will be the first opportunity in my life to drive a car as a factory team driver. This was one of the reasons why we were surprised by Prodrive’s approach, that if they have, for example, four cars on the grid, then absolutely all four cars will be given exactly the same conditions and opportunities. It was a surprise to me, because we are a private team with our own co-financing.”
Photo: Vaidotas Žala – Teltonika Racing
Žala revealed that his car, which will be rented from Penetratewill fully serve Penetrate factory BRX team, and the Lithuanian will have only his media people and one Lithuanian mechanic who previously helped Žal in two Dakar rallies and who will work for the BRX team in this rally.
Asked, for example, about the possibility of competing with the Audi team, Žala added without hesitation, “Audi has three factory drivers. I know that for an outsider to get an Audi, it will cost very, very expensive. The development that Audi is currently doing is so expensive that if they also offered to rent such a car, it would be expensive even for rich drivers. Meanwhile, Overdrive Racing (with Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al-Attiyah) was the only team with whom I failed to negotiate, or more precisely, we didn’t come to such negotiations to understand what opportunities we would have as a privateer team. ”
Photo: Vaidotas Žala – Teltonika Racing
Žala revealed that on September 16, tests in Morocco are planned for him, but the next start is already planned for the Dakar rally. “Our budget is limited and we can no longer participate in other competitions before the Dakar Rally. It is what it is, but we have a very good car and don’t have to worry about it. My first serious start will be in the Dakar Rally.”
Asked about the athlete’s goals in the 2023 Dakar Rally, the athlete added that “The goal, of course, is now the fight for the highest result. We will have all the conditions and materials to achieve it, so we will do everything in our power.”
