Rally-Raid

Course, Classic, committed: what to remember from the presentation of the Dakar 2022

The Dakar 2022, the first round of the new World Championship, will challenge the competitors from the start with an early marathon stage and a 70% renewed course. The Dakar Classic will attract 150 vehicles.

Published on 28/11/2021 à 12:03

Medhi Casaurang

0 View comments)

Course, Classic, committed: what to remember from the presentation of the Dakar 2022

The new Toyota Hilux will move to the T1+ class at the 2022 Dakar. © DPPI

Last May, we titled “The Dakar heads to Quart-Vide”. Since then, water has flowed under the bridges, or rather sand has been blown onto the dunes of the Empty Quarter. Following the summer reconnaissance, the event will finally avoid this inhospitable region of Saudi Arabia for the second year in a row.

However, David Castera, the boss of the race, wanted to reassure sand lovers. “The course has been 70% renewed compared to 2021, assures the Béarnais. On almost all of the 12 stages, you will find a little bit of dune. »

The technical checks will take place in Jeddah, a few weeks after the Formula 1 will have occurred on the cornice. The actual start will take place in Ha'il following a prologue to determine the starting order for the first stage.

There should be no observation rounds between Toyota, Audi and other BRX. Indeed, the marathon stage, where competitors must repair their mounts themselves without outside help, will occur on the second day. In previous years, including in South America, the organizers had never dared such timing!

“We know that marathon stages are always complicated, recognizes Stéphane Peterhansel, the title holder. You will have to give up a little on the first day to be 100% the next day on the second part of the marathon stage. »

In order to reduce transfers and spare the troops, both in terms of the organization and the athletes, Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) has planned five loops (1 in Ha'il, 2 in Riyadh, 1 in Wadi Ad-Dawasir and 1 in Bisha the day before arrival). A total of 4 km of timed sectors is announced out of a total of 258 km.

Championnat du monde
The Dakar 2022 will also be the launch of the World Rally Raid Championship, both FIA for cars and FIM for motorcycles. The W2RC name will host five events contested on three different continents. These are not new competitions but already well-known events in the Rally Raid World Cup:

“Following the announcement of the partnership with ASO to promote the new FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, I am delighted to see another important milestone confirmed today with the inaugural calendar for the series, said Jean Todt, head of the FIA. Counting the Dakar as the opening curtain is a real transition and a great success. We can even speak of a revolution, because new energies are being introduced. Motor racing is a laboratory because we constantly strive to develop clean cars. From a sporting point of view, this leaves room for creativity and imagination. »

Yann Le Moënner, CEO of ASO, believes that the World Championship is an ideal straitjacket to introduce regulations for more ecological cars and trucks, the best example of which is the arrival of Audi with a hybrid vehicle: “As the discipline becomes structured, it is the beginning of a virtuous circle to drive the energy transition and achieve “zero emissions” by 2030. The creation of the T1-Ultimate class is a cornerstone of the building: pioneering vehicles will set out to conquer the Saudi desert with alternative technologies, opening the way for all manufacturers who are maturing their projects. We want to give this medium-term strategy a sustained pace, while setting realistic deadlines. »

Classic
The call of the desert has tempted nearly 1 athletes. 000 vehicles are registered, with a strong increase linked to the Dakar Classic. The historic version, cautiously launched in 580, is gaining in appeal with 2021 cars and trucks from the glorious years of the Paris-Dakar.

“We wanted to pay homage to the history of the Dakar which made us dream in the 1980s and 1990s, believes David Castera. The course will be different compared to ''modern'' plateaus, with fewer dune crossings. However, all the steps will be the same. It will be a regularity race, with a novelty, a few pieces of navigation. »

Committed

The announcements have multiplied in recent days, so here is a summary of the main drivers in the Auto category. The newcomer, Audi, will trust “Monsieur Dakar”, Stéphane Peterhansel, as well as another veteran, Carlos Sainz. Historically linked to the Rings brand in DTM and in World Rallycross, Mattias Ekström will be the third man.

On the Bahrain Raid Xtreme side, Sébastien Loeb will seek to finally add the Dakar to its rich track record. He will be helped by a new co-driver, Fabian Lurquin, in place of Daniel Elena. Nani Roma will put his consistency at the service of Prodrive. A third Thunder T1+ will be built for the hot Orlando Terranova.

Beaten by a whisker in 2021, but dominating the other events of the season, Nasser Al-Attiyah will want to give the new Toyota Hilux T1+ its first victory at the Dakar. Toyota Gazoo Racing having entrusted the development of the 4×4 to Giniel de Villiers, the winner of the 2009 edition should play the leading roles.

List of main participants:

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!

0 View comments)

Read also

Comments

*The space reserved for logged in users. Please connect to be able to respond or post a comment!

0 Comment (s)

To write a comment