J. Todt: “The Dakar today is a new world”

You followed the final stages of the Dakar 2021 from the inside; How long has it been since you returned to a bivouac? 

This is the first time since I left my responsibilities at Citroën Sport. It must have been 30 years (29 in reality. Editor’s note).

Were you surprised by the evolution of rally-raid?

I have often traveled to deserts. In Africa, Russia, China, the Middle East. It's a real change of scenery. What I liked was seeing the level of organization. To see how the teams work. I was very surprised when Nasser Al-Attiyah explained to me that it only took him a minute to change a wheel. He showed me the hydraulic jack to jack up the car for repairs. This is magnificent progress. Equipment and navigation have evolved.

Back then, when we reached the finish of a stage, we often didn't know where our riders were. Whereas today you can track cars and motorcycles meter by meter using GPS. When it comes to safety, it's great. Today's Dakar is a new world, dictated by the evolution of motor racing. Maybe we lose a little taste for adventure. Before, the car left in the morning without knowing when it would return to the bivouac, or in what condition.

I read the dissatisfaction of certain crews. They complain about losing 10 minutes or even a quarter of an hour, because they could lose the rally due to this incident. 30 years ago, we could concede three, six hours. Sometimes, the cars arrived at 4 a.m. to set off again at 7 a.m.! Furthermore, I didn't see a single tent; there are only motor homes left for the crews.

Everyone remembers the coin affair between Ari Vatanen and Jacky Ickx, to the advantage of the first named in 1989. What do you think of it in hindsight?

For me, this was not an extraordinary moment. This is a moment of wisdom. If I found myself in a similar position today, I would do the same thing. Maybe I would communicate differently. It wasn't something anticipated. We must keep in mind that our margin over the pursuers was not 10 minutes like today but several hours!

It was necessary to find a solution to a problem which was brought forward by the pilots. They were not happy with this situation. A boss had to decide on a situation. One of the problems with race cars was their tendency to lift off/lift. It was therefore necessary not to take any risks for the end of the event. Today, this does not exist because they are limited to 180 km/h.

A terrible memory comes to mind, the 1991 Pharaons rally. I was following the Citroën ZX of Jacky Ickx and Christian Tarin in the helicopter. They rolled forward. The car caught fire, Jacky had time to get out, unlike Christian. This is why I applaud the security put in place on the Dakar. The arrival of the airbag for motorcyclists is a big step forward.

We saw in Formula 1 Romain Grosjean's accident. A few years ago, he wouldn't have been able to get out of it. I am convinced that in the next similar accident, the car will no longer catch fire. Because motorsport is a spectacle but a laboratory. The Dakar is the laboratory of the extreme. And we learn lessons from every accident.

What do you think of the “green” shift taken by ASO?

This is the next step in the laboratory that is auto racing. It's necessary promote new energies, including hydrogen. We started with a new vision for the rally-raid. What I find great is the interest that manufacturers have in these future categories.

Beyond the engines, we must also leave the location to which the Dakar goes as it was before. That is to say, do not dirty it, do not pollute it. In Africa and South America, we heard criticism that people were passing through and leaving bad traces. That doesn't seem to be the case in Saudi Arabia.

What is your opinion of Stéphane Peterhansel, whom you knew at the time on a motorbike?

The three drivers on the podium on this Dakar are all over 50, and Stéphane is 55. There aren't many sports that allow athletes to practice it at the highest level until that age. Stéphane is an extraordinary driver. He knew how to keep his motivation and above all his passion intact.

Do you support the World Rally Raid Championship project?

We currently have a specialty World Cup. We continue to discuss with ASO to see if we could share projects in the future. And if I went to the Dakar, it’s because the discussions are progressing.

What will you personally remember from your Paris-Dakar?

(Instantly) The barbecue! Otherwise, I would say adventure and facing the unknown. This fascinating side of uncertainty really attracted me. And I think it must be preserved to ensure the future of rally-raid. In life you must always be humble, and never think that you are stronger than others. Very often, the desert reminds us of this.

Life is full of uncertainty. If in 2019 we had been told that everyone would wear a mask and that the world would be paralyzed, no one would have believed it. This shows that human beings are very fragile. Nature is more powerful. We see it precisely in this event. The sand, the desert, the storms, this is the force of nature.