Dakar 2021: Lourenço Rosa starts the Dakar Rally with a 11th place in the prologue among the SSV

Lourenço Rosa and Joaquim Dias debuted in the most emblematic off-road race
The duo placed Can-Am Maverick in 11th place in the classification reserved for SSV

A project dreamed of for a long time and that has now become reality, with Lourenço Rosa and Joaquim Dias completing the first competitive kilometers in this Dakar Rally, in what is their debut participation in this event that will take place in Saudi Arabia until the 15th of January.

A short route of about 11 kilometers long that marks the competitive start of the Dakar Rally 2021, a difficult marathon that will test the physical and mental endurance of the riders while testing the limits of reliability and resistance of the machines that line up at the event.

The pair placed their Can-Am Maverick XRS assisted by South Racing in the 11th position of the classification of the T4 category where the SSV are inserted, and even with a short route, they had to deal with some traps because, according to the starting order, they entered in proves after many other competitors have already made their way, with an impact on the quality of the floors they found, already with some deterioration.

Even if the objective of this year is just to finish, and dignify the national colors, Lourenço Rosa never fails to state that

"we are here to give our best and even if we do not have a sports goal clearly defined in terms of the general classification, we want to give our best and learn to the fullest everything that involves participating in a Dakar. "

"These were the first kilometers and the first contact in race pace, I have to congratulate the team for the car that they delivered to us that is fantastic, and everything worked as expected allowing us a good result in this prologue. It was a great start, with the particularity of having found the route already very "dug" as dozens of cars and motorbikes and 40 more SSVs had passed there before we left, and this created greater difficulty. Me and Joaquim, my navigator, were well, we overcame this first obstacle without errors and we are satisfied with the result. "

"We still accumulated some anxiety but also a lot of desire, we entered quickly and had to overcome three competitors who were slower. It was necessary to put into practice the procedures that will be essential during the race, namely regarding the proximity alert system, the "Sentinel" which takes some time because the attention is divided between driving and the safety system. It is part, has already been a good workout today. Ready for another day, we are right outside the group of the first 10, the car gave us confidence, and tomorrow it will be really serious. "

Tomorrow, the first stage of the Dakar Rally will have a total length of 345 kilometers connecting the city of Jeddah to Bisha, with 277 of the kilometers being timed.