Chicherit: “I hope we’re going to have a hard time”

The rally-raid driver seems to have acclimatized perfectly to the behavior of the Mini Countryman, whereas until now he was accustomed to driving the BMW X3. “The Mini is shorter and more manageable but I haven't lost all my bearings,” Guerlain Chicherit told autonews.fr. The Countryman is only a sort of evolution of the X3. I don't see why we would have unpleasant surprises. »

The 2010 Dakar, however, turned into a nightmare for the BMW driver, who retired on the first stage. “I had a mechanical problem last year, that doesn't mean I'm going to have one this year. We prepared well again, I have a good car, one of the best co-drivers around, that's a lot of assets to my credit. In the end, I don't think I've ever been so relaxed. »

Nevertheless, Guerlain Chicherit knows that the priority remains to finish the event, but he nevertheless dreams of finishing on the podium. “I start from the principle that to achieve a result, you have to be at the finish. This is the instruction given by Mini: it is imperative to drive the car at the end of the rally. If we finish in all three, it will be huge! Now, there are too many issues at stake with Mini for me to let go of the horses. Maybe that’s also how we win the Dakar… I just hope we’re going to have a tough time! Last year, I found the Dakar too nice compared to the first South American edition. It has to make an impression, that we c..., that's what makes the legend of the Dakar. »