Suspension problems caused the Brazilian to finish the race ahead of schedule. But “test for the Dakar” was considered positive
The final day of the Baja International Dubai, a competition in which Lucas Moraes took part in preparation for the 2025 Dakar Rally, ended unexpectedly on Sunday (1/12). During the last stage of the weekend, the Brazilian driver and his navigator, Spaniard Armand Monleon, abandoned their car due to a broken suspension.
Lucas and Armand were competing in the new GR DKR Hilux EVO, which will be used in 2025 by Toyota Gazoo Racing, the official team of the Japanese car manufacturer. On Friday, the duo set the best time in the prologue and, on Saturday, reconfirmed their lead by once again being the best on the grid, winning the special in the Al Qudra desert.
Assessment is good - In Sunday's race, which consisted of 190 km of dunes, Lucas Moraes and his navigator Armand Monleon were leading the pack until, at kilometer 70, a suspension breakdown ended the day early for the three-time Sertões champion. Despite the setback, Lucas considers the experience a positive one.
“It was a difficult day, of course, but on the other days the car behaved very well. We had the ideal conditions here in Dubai to test the car before the Dakar. And these problems are part of it. We have a good set-up to face the desert in January and by then the car will be ready for us to go on in search of a podium or another good result for Brazil,” said Lucas, who, in just two years of taking part in the Dakar Rally, has already won an overall podium and a special stage victory. The Baja Dubai ended with victory for the Nasser Al-Attiyah/Pablo Moreno duo.
The 47th edition of the Dakar Rally will start on January 3 in Saudi Arabia. It will cover 7,700 km, divided into 12 stages, with the start in the city of Bisha and the finish in Shubaytah, on January 17. Lucas Moraes has the support of Red Bull, Repsol, Strava, Oakley, Zapalla and the Brazilian tire brand SpeedMax.
Automatic translation of the Portuguese version_
Source: BestPR
Photo: Alen Milavec/Red Bull Content Pool
