The Astara team, consisting of pilots Carlos Checa, Oscar Fuertes and Laia Sanz“excited” will face the next Dakar, where they will compete with three 01 Concept 100% sustainable synthetic gasoline cars and the main new, among the performance improvement, is the increase in power.
The three Astara 01 Concepts will be powered by a new 100% ecological synthetic fuel and developed from Century CR6. The rear-wheel drive is a 4×2 buggy, the maximum empty weight of 1,590 kilograms, 331 kW and with more than 500 kilometers of racing autonomy.
As new things, the car has 15% more power, has a SADEV gearbox, three spare tires, self-inflating system and RS3 suspension system.
Carlos Checa-Marc Solà
Carlos Checa, world superbike champion in 2011 and rider with 26 wins in the motorcycle World Championship, has already enjoyed the Dakar experience last year.
“Things came together to be part of the project and we hope to develop at the level of the sport. Last year I liked it a lot and now I face it in better conditions. The Dakar is something to enjoy me, I did some rallies on a motorcycle, but then I changed to experience the Dakar adventure from a different position”, he pointed out.
Marc Sola, Carlos Checa’s co-driver, has seven Dakar participations on his record, participating in 7 Dakars, four on motorcycles and three on SSV.
“It is a great privilege to have this opportunity with Astara. When Carlos Checa called me, I did not hesitate and now we will try to fight for what we want,” said Sola, during the presentation held in Madrid at the Astara headquarters . .
Laia Sanz-Maurizio Gerini
Laia Sanz, Eleven-time winner of the women’s Dakar trophy and fourteen-time world trials champion, she has driven a car in the last edition of the Dakar, the X-Raid Mini JCW Rally. In 2023 a four-wheel drive will reach again with this 01 Concept.
“After facing the Dakar with the aim of finishing the last edition, this year it is clear to me that I have to take a step forward to drive a competitive car and I think there are some good elements to improve,” he said .
“I’m glad to take the step. I’ve been riding a motorcycle for eleven years, I’ve bought a lot of lottery numbers and so far everything is going well. This year I’m making great strides to move forward with the results, I have improved a lot in the cars and I want to keep evolving and improving,” said Laia, who will compete with Maurizio Gerini as co-driver.
“It’s not easy to find a good co-driver. The one who drives the car is important, but who navigates and tells where the dangers are, they are also my eyes on the race. We know each other from in the motorcycle days. Character and Character is also important if there is no harmony, even if you are the best pilot, things will not work”, pointed out the Spanish pilot.
Oscar Fuertes-Diego Vallejo
Oscar Fuertes, winner of the Dakar Challenge in 2017 and Spanish rally champion in 2011, stated that with the arrival of Carlos Checa and Laia Sanz “the team grows and makes you better”.
“We are very excited and we will do it well. We have to leave with a full tank but the number of specials will increase and the number of coordinators will be reduced. One of the challenges of this Dakar is the management of consumption ,” said Fuertes, who He will have Diego Vallejo, with 405 rallies fought throughout his career, next to him in the car as co-driver.
“Since the first Dakar there has been a good harmony. There is a lot of trust, we have said to each other things that cannot be said, but it is like going to my best friend. I always say that you go with a friend and you either come back with a good friend or you don’t talk anymore,” he said.
The Astara team will travel to Saudi Arabia with 33 people, two trucks and three support vehicles, which is one of the largest competition delegations within the four-wheel category.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
