“How do you like the Dacia Sandrider, your new car for the next Dakar?
I feel it, otherwise I wouldn’t be here! This is the project that excited me the most when it was proposed to me at the beginning. We use an experience to which I contributed with Prodrive so we know what we have, with what works and what goes less well. This allowed me to express my feelings to try to eliminate all the little weak points on this new car. I think we’re off to a good start. The motivation of the team, whether it’s the technical team or the brand in general, is nice too.
“The current car is efficient but it is clear that today I said that if there was one point of performance on which we could play, it is on visibility”
What did you ask for as a major improvement point?
The current car is efficient but it is clear that today I said that if there was one point of performance on which we could play, it is on visibility. This will allow us to see earlier what is happening behind a dune, for example, to go around earlier. There is also solidity, with weak points that we now know about and on which I have given instructions. And the exhausts that heat the tires, we have to stop! There are lots of little things like that. We have to keep the good we have today and optimize everything else. I think the basic idea is good. I’m pretty confident we have a nice car.
You will now spend the year in development testing, is this something you like?
I think it’s important. It’s not necessarily my favorite thing to go around in circles for hours doing the same thing, but we know why we do it. On the other hand, I like being invested in the project from the start. I can’t wait to try this car for the first time and see some of the basic feel.
You will notably team up with Nasser Al-Attiyah, who seems to be parting ways with his French co-driver Mathieu Baumel.
I don’t know who will be next to him. I’ve heard the same stories as you but I don’t know any more. We’ll see, whatever happens, he’ll have a good co-pilot by his side. As far as I’m concerned, it will be Fabian (Lurquin) next to me. »
