The injury met his teammate Paulo Fiuza for the first time: the first practice did not disappoint

Positive work together

V. Damage admitted that he was looking forward to this encounter. Although Mr. Fiuza is an experienced navigator, the most important thing in a desert rally is teamwork, which certainly requires good communication between the athletes.

The Lithuanian explained that this issue was most worrying, so the pilots they had just met got to work immediately.

“Already in the morning we collected old road books and prepared how our communication should work in the car. I looked at the ceiling and Mr. Fiuza read me a road book.

It was very interesting to know if there would be difficulties or if he would understand everything. The first attempt was successful enough, about 90 percent. I understood the information provided by Paul. To make the terminology clearer for both of us, we shared comments and ideas on what we could change to make communication in the car more seamless, ”said V. Žala after the meeting with the co-driver.

Appreciable experience

The pilot did not hide the fact that the first meeting with Mr. Fiuza left a good impression, as the Portuguese is not only a professional in his field, but also a kind-hearted man who communicates pleasantly not only at work. but also on leisure issues.

V. Žala explained that P. Fiuza really has a lot of experience and skills, because he has been cooperating with the X-raid team for 10 years and has been involved in motorsports since 2000.

“After a long discussion, it became clear that Paul’s roadbook is not only read in the desert rally, but he also participates in high-level classic rally events, so it was really very interesting to talk. Of course, we will continue to focus on in-car communication and practice working with old road books.

I think the more time we spend reading road books on the table, the less we will have to do in the speed section, “said the Agrorodeo driver.

Tips and interior kitchen

V. Žala stated that P. Fiuza does not skimp on advice and willingly shares the accumulated experience and subtleties of the X-raid indoor kitchen. The choice of tire pressure and perception after passing some of the faster drivers is only a small part of what the Portuguese can share, so the Lithuanian has no doubt that the new co-driver’s advice It will be valuable when you fly in the sands of Saudi Arabia.

“At the 2020 Dakar, Mr. Fiuza, together with Stephane Peterhansel, won third place in the general classification, so it is really interesting how the work was with the French driver.

S. Peterhansel won his first Dakar when I was three years old, so that indoor kitchen is definitely very interesting for me. This is a very rare opportunity to receive such information, so when I talk to him I try to absorb all the information like a sponge ”, the runner did not hide his interest with laughter.

Before the beginning – various works

The Agrorodeo driver explained that after the meeting with the co-driver on Tuesday, the teams are awaiting another review. After the trip, each team member will need to head to the future bivouac zero and retest for COVID-19. Although the test results were negative for everyone who left in Lithuania, the retest is mandatory to enter the first outing of Dakar Speedway 2021 on January 3.

It is true that several work teams are also waiting on Wednesday, when the mechanics will remove all the sailing equipment from the port, which they will have to prepare for the tests on Thursday.

“The last time I sat on the baby was two months ago, so we will dedicate the last day of this year to training, after which the Dakar train will start moving. We will have to go through administrative and technical commissions, after which we will have a prologue, podium and start ”, V. Žala told us on the way to the first speed section.