Carlos Sainz sr won Dakar Rally 2018

In cross-country rallying, there is probably no harder event then the Dakar Rally. The first thing to mention is that it’s still called the Dakar Rally even though it hasn’t been driven in Africa for years. The current South American edition is great but I must admit that I greatly miss Africa and the authentic spirit of Sahara desert. However, the show must go on and actors are to take a challenge on any stage chosen by organizers. Some may say that this event has become something like an industrial entertainment for rich people but it still has that haunting call on every adrenaline addicted, either adventurer or professional driver.

Rallying hasn’t been much popular in the mainstream media for years now. I am an occasional rally driver and I know how challenging is to find a sponsorship. For participating in the Dakar rally, one needs a lavish sponsor. Some of my friends participated in the Dakar Rally (both editions: African and South American) and they all point out that the costs are enormous.

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If you'd like to take part in this rally, first of all, you must have an international FIA license. For to get it, you must have previous experience in rallying. Then, go and download the regulations. They have 159 pages. One must understand it very well. It is essential for a quick reaction in unknown situations. To take action is usually co-driver’s burden, but from my experience, it’s good for a driver to know everything.

Entry fee is something like 28 000€ without a cover for death insurance. It is one of the possible outcomes, one needs to accept. Not crybabies school trip for sure. The next thing on your list is to secure a service truck. You can share it with other competitors. That way you can all save expenses. The entry fee for that truck is 10 000€. One also needs to pay the mechanic crew who also get a piece of the cake you brought along. I was talking about entry fee for the race cars. Entry fees for motorbikes are cheaper but I am not into riding Dakar rally with a motorcycle. Since the best things in life are free, you can still eat and sleep in bivouac, free of charge.

So, how does one bring a race car to South America if one is, let’s say, located in Europe?!

First, you must bring it to the port of Le Havre in France and face the fact that French pretend not to speak English. (That is where you will have the first scrutineering of your vehicle done.) The ferry boat takes the car to the Port de Callao in Lima. I know some guys who drove to Le Havre. Meaning, they were driving their expensive and delicate rally cars for thousands of kilometres on highways, just to reduce the costs. If you don’t want to take a joyride to Le Havre, you must rent a trailer which has to be brought back afterwards. When this is done, you are already crazy and you haven’t even started your rally.

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After you've sorted that all out in the least painful way and moved on, when your car arrives in Lima, it must pass administrative checks and another round of scrutineering. Your hot wheels must be prepared for the rally under the local homologation rules. Homologation book must be kept in your car at all times during these checks and the rally.

Let’s take a moment to compare participation in the rally by car vs by motorbike. It’s much easier for motorbikes. You can rent it for around 20 000€. Of course, that’s the cost without necessary service and fuel budget of appx. 20 000€. So, we are already at 40 000€ but just before we have to cash out another 20 000€ for the entry fee. Then, there is also the cost of the aeroplane tickets waiting in line plus your personal expenses budget. It totals around 70 000€.

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If you don't feel dizzy by now, you have to know that if you are competing with a rented car, your sponsor will have to be way more generous. Let’s say that the rented car budget totals around 200 000€. If he's got to cash out this money for you, you've probably told him not to worry because you are winning for sure. If this happens not to be the case, the only thing you'll have left is the experience and nostalgic remembrance. It is very unlikely that anything will remain in your pocket. :)

So once you've paid your entry fee instead of a mansion in Philippine's paradise Laguna, your car has passed administrative and regulative matters and you can start the darn rally. But, then it all comes back to your mind. It’s not just any kind of rally. It’s the Dakar Rally – hardest and the most prestigious rally in the world. Unfortunately, it is already too late for that mansion.

For driving about 10 hours every day better be mentally and physically 100% fit Also, at least basic knowledge of car mechanics will come handy. If something goes wrong with the vehicle, you might find a solution way before your service crew arrives to give you a hand. After a weekend of rallying in the national championship, one already feels exhausted and needs a few days to recover. In this rally, one drives day after day for two weeks.

Why do I care to say this?
Someone stubborn enough who wants to participate must be clear about the strength and sacrifices needed. One cannot be troubled by money issues while driving. ‘What if I crash my rented ‘beast’ and will I be able to pay the repair costs and penalties?’. Such mindset can’t have a place in this event. Pure and unrestrained driving is the only thing he/she should bear in mind. Yep, it’s hard to be a privateer. And it’s dearly hard to drive without a real budget. But you have chosen to participate because there are octanes flowing thru your veins instead of blood, anyway.

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I soon found out that helping each other is the most important side thing on Dakar Rally. My mate helped Jeff Gordon a few years ago by pulling him to the service zone - for 15 miles! And the only reward was a big hug and a huge THANK YOU!

Now let’s talk about the rewards, presuming you were lucky enough to finish on top of the leaderboard of your class. The prize list is a little light for the hardest rally in the world. The regulations state:

1st place - 5000€ + 1 trophy
2nd place - 3000€ + 1 trophy
3rd place - 2000€ + 1 trophy.

What the heck?! Yeah, that’s it! You risk your own life for two weeks for the 5000€ prize at maximum. I've been rallying since 2001 and am aware that there are no prizes in national championships, except for the trophies and champagne, of course. So, nothing new here but if we compare Dakar to F1 prizes, it is easy to realize that rallying really went downward for the last 15 years. Everything is done for the fame and hope that some kids will like you while dreaming of the shaking wheel. But, once you've become a legend, the feeling remains priceless, I believe.

Now back to the rally. This year’s edition had three countries in the itinerary: Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.

The start was in Lima (Peru) with the finish line in Cordoba (Argentina).
From the start, it was obvious that Peugeot, as a big factory team, had the biggest chances of winning because they invested at least 100 million $ in the development of the cars and in the driver's perfection training. Peugeot drivers are very well known in the world of rallying: Stephane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz sr, Sebastien Loeb and Cyril Despres.

The second biggest team in this year’s Dakar was Toyota. Their drivers are Nasser Al-Attiyah, Giniel de Villiers, Peter van Merksteijn and lots of guys who rented the Toyota cars.

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The Mini team also had some very well known drivers such as Mikko Hirvonen, Orlando Terranova, Yazeed Al Rajhi and the renters.

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Before the rally start, organizer banned rally maps, mobile phones, tablets, personal computers for the big teams. Only private entrants were allowed to use them.

Lots of people expected Sebastien Loeb would finally win the Dakar Rally but alas! it didn’t happen. He crashed and his co-driver Daniel Elena had some bad fractures after the crash. It’s even doubtful he will start on Rally Mexico in March 2018. in the right seat along with Loeb. Let’s hope for the best and Daniel's soon comeback.

After Loeb’s shunt, the biggest fight was between Peterhansel, Sainz sr and Nasser Al-Attiyah. So we had two Peugeots and one Toyota in the fight for the throne. Let’s say that small mishap decided but as we know, the devil is always in the details.

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Peterhansel had some technical issues and that gave Sainz sr wind in the back. One couldn’t miss noticing that Al-Attiyah’s Toyota wasn’t at the same level as Peugeots.

After all the tension and drama, the big fight between Sainz sr and Peterhansel decided the winner. Peterhansel went off and lost some time to finish 4th overall, while Al-Attiyah, knowing that his car is not on the same level as Peugeots used the clever tactics to finish 2nd, just behind Sainz sr. Toyota’s regular Giniel de Villiers finished 3rd overall.

And there you go, on the podium, we had one Peugeot as a winner and two Toyotas as a follow-up. I must admit the biggest surprise for me was the Polish driver and the best Mini finisher Jakub Przygonski with his steady progress taking the excellent 5th position.

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Another surprise was the result of Khalid Al Qassimi, who finished in the 6th place, driving a private Peugeot rented from Citroen/Peugeot ‘sister’ team PH-Sport.

Regular WRC driver until 2016 and ex-JWRC champion Martin Prokop finished 7th in his private Ford. Last three positions in the top 10 were taken by the private Toyota drivers: Peter van Merksteijn, Sebastian Halpern, and Lucio Alvarez.

Final results (top 5, cars):
1 Carlos Sainz sr (Peugeot) 49h16m18s
2 Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota) +43m40s
3 Giniel de Villiers (Toyota) +1h16m41s
4 Stephane Peterhansel (Peugeot) +1h25m29s
5 Jakub Przygonski (Mini) +2h45m24s

Now what to say after the 40th edition of Dakar Rally?!
Most of the drivers will come back next year and risk their own life again just to take a part in this risky and dangerous but amazing and legendary rally.

It is also important to say that it was the last rally for Peugeot works squad because they announced that they will be more active in the World RX from now on. (RX is rallycross)

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And yes, maybe it was the final Dakar Rally for this year’s winner Carlos Sainz sr. As he said, there is no offer on the table for the next year's Dakar at the moment. But we hardly ever know what is ahead of us in the future so there is always a chance. The hope never dies.

What we do know is that this week new World Rally Championship season starts with legendary Monte Carlo Rallye. We expect a lot of adrenaline and improved video/internet coverages.
Let the best win – as always!!!

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Authored by: @ssekulji

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