The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Dakar 2023: "The Dakar must be used for something", recognizes its boss David Castera

2022-12-29T12:56:35.875Z


To last over time, the cream of rally-raids must carry out a project that is useful to the automotive industry.


"

The Dakar must serve a purpose

", calls the boss of the famous rally-raid David Castera, confronted with the emergence of environmental issues before the start of the 45th edition on Saturday.

"

Doing mechanical sport, it seems not to be in tune with the times

," he admits to AFP, but his race is "

an open-air laboratory to prepare for what the cars of tomorrow will be

," assures- does it again.

What additional security measures did you take after the 2022 edition, the scene of an explosion, two according to French investigators?

David Castera

: To take into account what happened last year, even if we don't have access to the file, we have + upgraded + security with the local forces, the Saudis are helping us.

We have taken security up a notch on everything that involves bivouac access.

Today we are lucky to only have bivouacs so, somewhere, it's easier for us too.

In addition, we do the whole route with the authorities and we create a huge +book+, we take all the arrival and departure points, all the road crossings, all the supply points and possibly the spectator areas to ensure safety. of each of the points.

This is another aspect of rally safety.

Environmental issues are in all the debates.

What is the Dakar doing to get up to speed?

This is the problem of all motorsports.

It's true that doing motorsport today doesn't seem to be in tune with the times, but it also allows us to develop the vehicles of tomorrow.

The Dakar must serve a purpose, it's an open-air laboratory to prepare what the cars of tomorrow will be.

We are moving towards new vehicles that will pollute less (...) We have many small projects that are beginning to emerge (electric, hydrogen, biofuels, etc.), but we are struggling.

We have cars that are ready, but that I don't know how to run because hydrogen stations are not being put in place as quickly as the development of technology.

So you have to make the logistical issues, the supplies, coincide with the advancement of technology.

VS'

is really a strong enough challenge but we are on it and we have launched a dynamic so that everyone in 2026 is in low emission.

Zero doesn't exist, but you can be very low.

Ultra-high-performance and vintage racing cars rub shoulders on a rally in which half of the participants are amateurs.

Are there two Dakars in one?

The point of convergence is the passion for mechanics, the desert and adventure.

There is a form of nostalgia for the Dakar of the 80s, because that is where it was born and we always look to the genesis of a story so we remember those years, years of absolute discoveries ( ...) The history of the Dakar is still being written today.

There are three stories: that of the past, we must not forget where we come from, because there are enthusiasts.

The current Dakar which is changing and we are on the future Dakar with projects in all directions.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2022-12-29

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.