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Loeb and Elena advance masked: “Hard to plan for this Dakar 2021”

After an absence, the expectations of Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena are not high at the wheel of a brand new vehicle and on terrain that they do not master as much as their rivals. 

Published on 01/01/2021 à 15:39

Medhi Casaurang

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Loeb and Elena advance masked: “Hard to plan for this Dakar 2021”

January 1st is usually synonymous with devatting and a nap by the fire. Well, that's in France, because in Saudi Arabia, the consumption of alcohol is prohibited and the mercury is close to 30 degrees.

It is therefore in shorts, t-shirt and sunglasses that the star couple of this 42nd edition, Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, arrived at the King Abdullah stadium in Jeddah to undergo administrative checks.

The Monegasque co-pilot also spent New Year's Eve without much enthusiasm, like all of his colleagues, due in particular to the strict anti-Covid-19 rules. “I ate a meal tray at the hotel and at 22:30-23 p.m. I was in my room. I only drank water”, testified “Danos”, although fond of pastis.

 

His Alsatian sidekick, after having slightly railed against the slowness of the paperwork, appeared relaxed and did not want to hide his state of form, summed up by a simple but effective formula: “Everything is new for us. »

“The problem is that I don’t know anything about it (if I can seek final victory. Editor’s note). I don't really have a reference.

I tested on terrain where we have no basis for comparison. The only basis for comparison is my experience of Peugeot 3008 DKR from two years ago and it was very different from the Hunter because it had two-wheel drive diesel. Knowing after 400 km of special if you will be 5 minutes slower or faster than the others is difficult to predict.

En fait, la perfo, on ne s’en rendra compte qu’en course. Est-ce qu’on sera en mesure de se battre avec les meilleurs (Toyota et Mini. Ndlr), est-ce qu’on sera aussi rapide qu’eux ? Tout ça, ce sera à voir pendant l’épreuve », explains the nine-time world rally champion (WRC).

“I hope that we will be reliable, that the navigation will be good and that I don't make too many stupid mistakes. »

Sébastien Loeb draws up a long list of changes in just two years on this rally-raid. “The car is new, the terrain is new (Peru in 2019 vs. Saudi Arabia in 2021) and Daniel must adapt to the new road-book system given in the morning. Before, there were the mapmen who helped us dissect the route the day before the stage. It's over. This is why it's hard to plan for this Dakar. »

Medhi Casaurang

Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!

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