Dakar: The countdown is on

The 2011 Dakar will begin in less than two weeks. After two victories in 2009 and 2010, Volkswagen will aim for a hat-trick during the event which will take place from January 2 to 15 in Argentina and Chile.

Published on 20/12/2010 à 18:33

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Volkswagen Motorsport logically appears as the big contender for this 2011 edition. While Giniel de Villiers won in 2009, Carlos Sainz was the fastest of the 2010 edition, winning ahead of his teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah with just two minutes and twelve seconds ahead! The latter, who had displayed strong bitterness towards the Spaniard, whom he accused of having stopped him, is now aiming for the top step of the podium.

But the German manufacturer's competitors intend to use their strengths to return to victory. Stéphane Peterhansel hopes to steal the show from the VW drivers aboard the BMW X3CC of the Monster X-Raid Team. The Frenchman is the absolute record holder for the number of victories in the event, with three car victories and six motorcycle victories. His teammate will be Guerlain Chicherit, the eclectic BMW driver, World Champion of Rally-Raid in 2009 and who will start the Dakar at the wheel of a Mini All4, developed on the basis of the X3CC.

After announcing his absence, Nani Roma will finally be at the start of the 2011 edition. Winner in 2004 in the motorcycle category, the Spaniard then switched to cars and managed to get on the podium in 2006 (3rd place) . He is now tackling his fifth start of the famous Rally-Raid event, at the wheel of a Nissan Overdrive.

Robby Gordon is a pilot Nascar, but he also participated in several editions of the Dakar. At the wheel of his Hummer, he reached the podium in 2009 and hopes to do the same in 2011. With his style in his own right, he should once again be one of the attractions of this Dakar. Capable of the best and the worst, he will have a hard time facing his rivals.

All these competitors, and many others, will have to cover more than 9500 km, including 5000 km of racing, which will be spread over thirteen stages. Like every year, France Télévisions will cover the event. The Dakar will be on the air on France 4 from 18:50 p.m. to 19:40 p.m., on France 2 before 20 p.m., on France 3 from 20 p.m., on France 2 in the third part of the evening and on the Stade 2 show on Sundays January 9 and 16 .