Fabrice Connen (associate director of DPPI): “The role of the photographer goes beyond the photo”

Fabrice, tell us about this Land Rover, it looks very good!

This is a 1960 model. Based on the island of Jersey, it belonged to the British army. When I found it by chance in Brittany, I immediately fell in love with it. It needed a good restoration. It is a machine that reminds me of my youth and the soap opera Doctors (animal adventure series set in Africa. Editor's note). In addition, I spent part of my childhood and adolescence in Africa. Perhaps this tarpaulin, vintage, raw side contributes to it.

Precisely, tell us about this first part of your life in Africa?

My father worked there as a cooperator between France and different countries on the continent: Burundi, Togo and Congo. It was in Brazzaville (capital of Congo. Ed.) that I passed my baccalaureate and my driving license.

The opportunity for you to approach the race for the first time?

Almost! It was not in Brazzaville, but in Burundi. I was 11 years old. There was the Rally from Burundi where some local stars were involved at the wheel of the Peugeot 504 or Datsuns. I thought to myself: " Wow, that looks really good "When I was a kid, I knew the mileage of every car on my street. I would look at them and think, "So-and-so has done so many miles" every week. (Laughs)