[ad_1]
In his Instagram story this week, Benedict Vanag posted a tip about a new Dakar car that had already landed in the garage as “Martian.” Benedict also announced the name of the team he will represent in Dakar and beyond: Inbank Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics.
ALSO READ: The “Martian” landed in Benediktas Vanagas’ garage: is it a new Dakar car?
And who will be the co-pilot? Last year, after the illegitimate partner of B. Vanags Sebastian Rozwadowski fell ill, an urgent search was carried out for a professional co-pilot. It became the Portuguese Filipe Palmeiro, who has been cooperating with the factory team “Mini” “X-raid” for a decade. For this athlete in 2020. Dakar was 14th. In 2019, F. Palmeiro with a Chilean rider Boris Garafulichium finished in eighth place.
B.Vanagas ending in 2019. admitted that factory team leaders Toyota Gazoo Racing and Mini were also involved in the search for the co-driver. It was with the leader of the latter team, one of the most influential people on the Dakar, Sven Quandtu, and it was necessary to finally negotiate the contract to take over F. Palmeiro for the race.
“Filipe is an investment project for us. We will need to learn and adopt many of the good practices and principles that are used in factory equipment. In addition to fighting for the result, it will be very important for us to learn from those who have been an example during many years ”, commented the pilot about the situation a year ago.
How Benedict Vanagas chose this year’s Dakar co-driver
“When we were looking for a browser, it was important to us that it be profane, knowledgeable in his field.
In debating, talking and negotiating the terms, we realized that the overall result of the team will depend a lot on this specialist. We didn’t have to afford to make concessions here, “Vanagas wrote on his social media accounts Thursday.
This letter from B. Vanags explains the details of the upcoming Dakar. In all speed sections, teams will only receive electronic road books and only before departure. Therefore, even the slightest browser error can cost a place not only in the TOP10 or 20, but also in the TOP30.
As the fans speculated
When asked to guess the co-driver for the next Dakar, fans called out Latvian motorcyclist Jan Vinters, who had greeted Sebastian Rozwadowski, as well as former teammates Bartek Bob and Andrei Rudnicki. Also the Polish Darek Rodewald (Gerardo De Rooy’s navigator). Some laughed at the pilot Jurgis Kairis and the singer Selas.
However, the majority felt that the most professional of all the former Vanagas Dakar sailors is Filipe Palmeiro.
“So far, Filipe is the only one who puts Ben in a place where he already wants to shave his hair and has too much passion,” wrote Benediktas Vanags fan Martynas.
But the compatriots feared that the Portuguese were too expensive. And although B. Vanagas achieved the best result with S. Rozwadowski, some fans were of the opinion that the project with Felipe is not finished yet, because Inbank Gazoo Racing Baltics has not yet reached the TOP 10.
Sturman’s last name was announced Friday morning.
On Friday morning, B. Vanagas also announced the answer to this riddle. The Lithuanian co-driver in Dakar in 2021 will be Portuguese Filipe Palmeiro.
When choosing a navigator for the Dakar 2021, negotiations were held with professionals from Great Britain, Poland, France, South Africa, the Netherlands and Portugal. According to Vanagas, the final decision regarding Palmeiro was determined by his professionalism, the experience of the factory team and the good experience of this year’s Dakar Rally.
Photo by Rytis Šeškaitis / Bank Team Pitlane team
“After this year’s experience with Filipe, it was not easy to find a new co-driver. Naturally, compare new candidates with existing experience. Filipe remained a priority throughout the search. I am glad that he himself wanted to continue the cooperation, “said B. Vanagas, record holder for the best result of the Baltic countries in Dakar.
General plans for the entire 2021 season
Palmeiro, a 43-year-old co-driver who has represented the Mini X-raid team for eleven years, has decided not to renew his contract with the team. The athlete partners next year with Inbank Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics.
“I had a great experience with Benedict and his team, so I decided to extend the cooperation for a year. It is a particularly professional and results-oriented team. I hope that together we will reach the TOP 10 in the Dakar Rally, our plans with Benedict, and the I start in the World Trouble Cup ”, says F. Palmeiro.
Palmeiro’s crossover co-driver started his career in 2005 and it will be his 15th Dakar. The biggest achievement in the toughest race on the planet: 8th place in 2019. Portugal is also a multiple participant in the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup, finishing second in the 2009 championship.
Looking for a financial solution
According to B. Vanags, the new co-driver is a great additional cost line in the team’s budget, for which solutions are still being sought.
“We just realized that the result would be better than last time. You must make decisions that allow you to improve.
This is the most expensive investment in my 25-year career, but to move forward, we will have to find additional sources of funding for this important team step, ”summed up team strategist Inan Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics B. Vanagas.
[ad_2]
