The Dakar 2024 has begun its course and, with it, the 14th participation of Laia Sanz in the race, the third to compete in the section of cars. The pilot of KH-7 has completed the prologue stage, which has had as its stage the proximity of Al-Ula, aboard the buggy astara 02 Concept and with Maurizio Gerini on his right.
With a total route of 163 kilometers, 27 of them timed, this first day has served to establish the order of departure of the first stage, which will be held this Saturday. The Catalan driver has covered the special in 19 minutes and 19 seconds, 2’49” from the first qualified, Mattias Ekström, and less than one-and-a-half minutes to the first 4x2 (T1.2), that of Mathieu Serradori. The short time difference between drivers has placed the Spanish-Italian duo in the 60th absolute position, with 20 cars ahead of them less than 40 seconds, which will mean that in the first stage they leave very late.
Corbera de Llobregat (Barcelona) shows positive after this first day despite the difficulties they have encountered: “We are satisfied with the feeling, which is the important thing, but it is true that we have had to start quite backwards and we have lost a little time. When we left it was very broken, very bumpy, so we were very careful, as it was easy to pinch. I think we have taken it even too calmly, but in the end it is a prologue in which if you risk too much you can get in trouble.”
After this first contact with the buggy, there are many kilometers left that have nothing to do with the prologue, so the Catalan driver has very clear that there is no need to rush. “The whole race remains, so we have to take it calmly, that this is very long. We are pleased, because the car has worked well and now it is up to us to have some confidence. I think we will adapt and we will get a little better every day. In the last part of Saturday's tour there is a lot of stone and we will have to be vigilant, but if we are smart I think we can recover quite a few positions.”
This Saturday 6 January will be the time when the competitors will start the real action with the first stage, which will have a total of 544 kilometers, with 414 special, starting in Al-Ula and finishing in Al Henakiyah.
Source KH-7 / Laia Sanz official press release
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