LONDON, 31 December 2005 — Twice world rally champion Carlos Sainz faces the potential dangers of desert sandstorms, towering dunes and the threat of armed bandits when he makes his Dakar debut this weekend.
Winner of a record 26 world rally championship events before retiring this year, Sainz leaves Lisbon today with 187 other drivers on a 9,043 kms race across seven countries to the finish in Senegal on Jan. 15.
Driving a Volkswagen Touareg prototype, he is the high-profile newcomer in a race some consider the most dangerous and toughest event in motorsport.
Two bike riders, including twice winner Fabrizio Meoni of Italy, died in crashes last January and motorcycles have had tougher speed limits imposed to improve safety and make the event fairer to all competitors.
“Carlos will go very well,” Sainz’s former teammate Colin McRae, who has twice entered the Dakar, told Britain’s Autosport magazine this week.
Volkswagen are entering five works cars, with former winner Jutta Kleinschmidt of Germany starting her 15th Dakar and France’s Bruno Saby another strong contender.
This year’s winner Stephane Peterhansel of France and compatriot Luc Alphand, the former downhill skier, lead the Mitsubishi challenge.
Peterhansel is looking for a treble in the car category after six wins as a motorcycle rider.
In the bikes category, with 240 riders entered, title-holder Cyril Despres of France returns on a KTM with Spanish riders Marc Coma, Isidre Esteve Pujol and Jordi Duran on similar machinery.
