Isidre Esteve achieved his best result in a World Rally-Raid event

There are no barriers to Isidre Esteve, and if there are, find a way to break them. That’s the mentality that has led him to overcome obstacle after obstacle, goal after goal, until today, when he achieved his best partial classification in a test of Rally-Raid World Championship. The pilot of Repsol Toyota Rally Team and his co-pilot Txema Villalobos the second phase of the Morocco RallyCome in Tan-Tan and Laayoune with 315 timed kilometers, in a rare sixth overall position, 31 minutes and 16 seconds behind the first.

The result allowed them to jump into the general classification of the test and place eighth overall, 37’53” behind the leader, the same position they also occupied in the T1 cars section. For Stevethis milestone was almost unthinkable ten years ago, when he returned to competition thanks to a smart pillow (now called Nubolo) that prevented the development of pressure ulcers.

To tell the truth, since then, more than an illusory thought, it has become a desire which the Oliana (Lleida) held on tight until it became a reality: to be part of the elite of the competition again, regardless of the paraplegia in which he lives. “Motorsport is a clear example of what inclusive sport is: people with and without disabilities come together under the same rules and in the same classification”defend.

“Getting this result is incredible. We are very happy, because the level of riders competing is not easy, but above all I stick to our speed. We race a lot, we have fun and the car is going very well . And it is to the credit of the whole team, Repsol, MGS, KH-7, Toyota and all the people who have supported us for many years. Without a car like this we could not be as competitive, but the mechanics also did a good job in the tests before the Morocco Rally, especially with the brakes. And I must say that for the first time I have a car where I brake where I want and when I want. It will be great”remarks while showing the rings of the Guidosimplex system that are on the side of the steering wheel of his Toyota Hilux T1+ and act as brakes (the rear ring) and accelerator (the front ring).

Esteve and Villalobos had already experienced a great development yesterday, when they moved up 15 positions from 26th to end the day in 11th place, despite a lot of dust from the cars ahead of them . This morning the Repsol Toyota Rally Team enjoyed better visibility from the start of the stage and were able to increase their speed from the start. The key for them is navigation, where the co-driver from Calonge (Girona) is impeccable.

fast stage

“It was a pretty fast stage, but with a lot of navigation because there’s a lot of off track and it’s hard to get your bearings. We didn’t make any mistakes, except for a moment when an Audi passed us and we kept thinking it was going well , although Txema quickly found the right path. Coming to the end, there were two difficult places and we were right. We are very satisfied with it all. The only downside is that we punctured ten kilometers from the finish line and we lost part of the advantage we had achieved”, he commented.

This Tuesday, stage 3

The Morocco Rally reaches its southernmost point tomorrow, Tuesday, in the third stagea loop with start and end at El Ayoun with 300 timed kilometers and only 23 liaisons. It will be an easy day for the assists, who won’t have to switch camps. Competitors, on the other hand, are sure to have a busier day on the tracks and desert that await their arrival.