[ad_1]
“We are at the place where we presented our Bite six years ago,” recalled Vaidotas Žala, the team’s driver, presenting an updated image of the team.
The team, which used to be bright green in color, will be welcomed next year in the literal sense of the word: after the main partner of the team “Agrorodeo” changed the image, the Dakar Rally crew followed.
For the second year in a row, the crew will race in a Mini car. The X-Raid team logo appeared on the last side, but, V. Žala emphasized, this does not mean that the Lithuanians have become part of the factory team.
“We still need a lot of grass to cut,” joked the driver, adding that after the 2020 Dakar Rally, in which the Mini suffered many problems and injuries, the car was restored to its ideal condition on the X-Raid base and was allowed to compete again.
New co-pilot
The biggest question that arose for everyone who followed the team’s adventures is with which co-driver V. Žala will travel to the Dakar Rally. After all, S. Jurgelėnas returned from the Dakar Rally in 2020 after sustaining a serious spinal injury. And while the rehabilitation was successful, the degeneration of a spinal disc began.
“Doctors said they could drive, but take some serious painkillers,” S. Jurgelėnas joked, adding that the next plan was surgery, but there is no time to guess and try and prepare for the Dakar Rally, because rehabilitation after the operation would take half a year.
The X-Raid team came to the rescue and offered the Lithuanian crew a new co-pilot.
“The team was looking for the best solution for us, because it is really difficult to find a talented and experienced sailor,” said V. Žala.
Together with the Lithuanian, the Portuguese Paulo Fiuza, former co-driver of Stephane Peterhansel, who bears the name of Mr. Dakar, will take a car.
See you only in Jeddah
V. Zala and P. Fiuzo will meet only in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the Dakar Rally is expected to start on January 3 next year. Until then, the crew does not plan a joint training.
“In general, we are thinking of closing the basement for the whole of December to make sure we can leave,” joked V. Žala.
Mr. Fiuz’s career is rich in victories and experience. For example, at the 2020 Dakar Rally, together with S. Peterhansel, P. Fiuzo took third place. In 2014, this co-driver raced with Orlando Terranova and ranked fifth.
“I won’t bother with expectations as bold as Paul, though I get it, he’s apparently not used to driving outside of the TOP10. However, we will first need stability so that there are no such jumps from top to bottom, ”said V. Žala.
It is strictly forbidden to use the information published by DELFI on other websites, in the media or elsewhere, or to distribute our material in any way without consent, and if consent has been obtained, it is necessary to cite DELFI as the source.
[ad_2]
