Dakar 2023 – Mathieu Baumel ready for title defense: “There is no more waiting race on the Dakar”

When we approach him in the XXL-sized bivouac of Sea Camp, on the edge of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, Mathieu Baumel (Toyota) takes on the role of the visitor of the future, it's him! “New Year 2023 passed as soon as I arrived here. I'm in Dakar mode and everything else I put aside. We will have time to party after January 15th arrives, inshallah! »

The navigator of Nasser Al-Attiyah, world champion of rally-raid last fall and defending champion at the Dakar, only thinks of one thing: remaining number 1 in the discipline. If the prospect of a fight with Sébastien's Hunter T1+ Loeb and Guerlain Chicherit does not frighten him, it is different with the irruption into the match of Stéphane Peterhansel's electric Audi RS Q e-tron E2, Carlos Sainz and Mattias Ekström.

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“Last year Audi didn't win overall, but you can't compare everything. They have done a lot of work since then, and on paper, they are the best, declares the French co-pilot. They used means that we do not have, their technology provides them with certain help in many areas. »

ALSO READ > Dakar 2023 Guide – Audi as favorite

The Audis are equipped with a hybrid engine capable of providing them with more energetic acceleration in the dunes and instant torque, unlike the Toyotas and BRXs with a turbo gasoline engine.

“There is a small difference in weight, of at least 100 kg in favor of the Toyotas, certainly, adds Mathieu Baumel. But overall, it doesn't change much. If we add up all the changes, that's a lot to counter for our Hilux T1+, which hasn't evolved as much (than the Audi) since last year. I think it's going to be complicated, but that's what will make the race interesting if we manage to fight among the Audis. »

Is there not a risk that the sporting debate will shift to the technical field in the event of domination by German machines from the kick-off scheduled for December 31? “ We will have to see with the FIA ​​and ASO, the sporting authorities, judges Mathieu Baumel. If from the outset the Audis are far ahead… Today (December 29), we can't decree anything until the race has started, anyway. I just hope that everyone will be at an equivalent level of performance to have an interesting Dakar. It would be great ! »

Mathieu Baumel prefers to dissect the changes made to the sporting regulations for this Dakar 2023, which could have real impacts on the event. Starting with the removal of the mid-special neutralization, which will modify the driving of the competitors.

 

 

 

 

 

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“It will change the strategy of your day, advances the co-driver of Toyota Gazoo Racing. Before, we stopped for 20 minutes to keep the gap with the cars that were refueling. It's from the past. We will no longer know where we stand in relation to the adversaries, who follow us or precede us. We will live days without meeting anyone. We will not know if the pace adopted is slow or adequate and there will be no way to adjust the pace during the special. »

Le Dakar Rally will also be two days longer compared to the 2022 version. “It will add fatigue. Not necessarily because of the mileage, because the second week will offer shorter stages. On the other hand, the sporting level of these stages will be higher with the Quart Vide (dune desert) and the marathon stage planned in the middle (without external assistance. Editor’s note). It will be a great edition. »

The desire to start this 45th edition of the Dakar in “soft pedal” mode to spare the organisms and the mechanics will not, however, tickle the mind of Nasser Al-Attiyah, renowned for his offensive spirit. “It’s difficult to want to start the event calmly. This practically no longer exists these days, even declares Mathieu Baumel. The Dakar is now an endurance-sprint race, and this is why we have to work more and more on the reliability and durability of mechanical elements. We are almost obliged to give our all for two weeks. There is no longer a waiting race on the Dakar.

What is evolving is the discovery of the terrain in real time thanks to the road book distributed the very morning of the special. This is where gaps can occur from one day to the next, between the one who opens the track and the comrades behind. You don't always have to be in the lead, but on the other hand, if you want to win, you still have to be in front at a certain time! This is what the Dakar will be about, on the small details. Once you make a navigation error, it's almost unrecoverable. »

If you want to know more about this titanic work carried out by co-drivers like Mathieu Baumel, get the Dakar 2023 Guide, available on our online store, or read our immersion in the profession of navigator below!

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