RALLY DAKAR 2019 

 
 
 

Step 1, Martin Prokop: "When he walked the 'Shrek' flew ..."

Martin Prokop had complications as early as the first leg of the Dakar. The Czech driver of the Ford Raptor had to stop several times during the first stage to solve problems with Raptor RS Cross Country electronics. He lost about twenty minutes, finishing only 46th. His team-mate Tomáš Ouředníček recorded the 25th time: "The Dakar did not start at all well for us because the car stopped after the first kilometer, then twice more. When this happened for the last time, the electronic reset did not help, so we had to get in touch with the team and try to find a solution with remote help.
Finally, we were able to restart, but all this lasted endlessly and we lost about eighteen minutes. This was not the best start for us, but I believe this loss will not mean much in the overall standings.
 Unfortunately we were cheated by a piece of a euro, but this happens sometimes. We have to hope that this was the last obstacle and that, starting from behind, we get to pass by the slower cars that leave in front of us.
 I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do, because when it was good the 'Shrek' literally flew. "

 

1º Step: Fausto Mota with cautious start

After a year of intensive training to face the tough and demanding Dakar Rally tracks, Fausto Mota, who was the only Portuguese to finish the 2018 edition of this event, is the all- beginning in the inaugural stage of the competition that yesterday linked the Peruvian capital Lima and Pisco.
The natural driver of the Marco de Caneveses, who is residing and working in Spain, spent 1h22m14s, to complete the 331 kilometer special, 84 of which timed, as last year, was disputed in the desert and this year started with order number inverted for the motorcycle and quad categories.
In the first special of this edition, which is the first time the Dakar takes place in only one country, the dunes were very present. The stage was short but demanding and the navigation was essential. Fausto Mota finished the day in 63rd place.
Inscribed with the number 54, the rider who contests this edition of the Dakar at the controls of a Husqvarna FE 350, reveals that the special was within his expectations, without registering any setback: "The bivouac was in the same place last year. All the course was done off-piste, in dunes. The stage was short, but it ran within what was planned without any mishaps. Let's see how the rest are. "

 

 

José L. Abreu, Portugal