Laia Sanz: “The goal is to improve. Perhaps, the Top-15”

Laia Sanz was one of the stars that was part of the official presentation of Dakar 2023this Thursday at Paris. The Catalan pilot, after 11 consecutive editions finishing the Dakar on a motorcycle, begins his new four-wheel challenge in 2022 with his first participation in a car with Mini X Raid. He finished in 23rd place, returning in the latter part of the Rally after being hampered by external factors such as the controversial starting arrangement of the last edition, which saw him rolling on several stages at the start with a lot of dust and more slow cars. In front. The Corbera de Llobregat pilot got him ‘disability’ In addition, it is not only necessary to learn at a forced speed in his debut, but also to drive a 4×4 T1, a type of vehicle with lower performance than the T1+ and the many. lots of bugs which is racing, with more suspension travel and bigger wheels. This year, after the 2022 study, Laia Sainz went forward with a two-wheel drive T1, the Astara 01 Concept of the Astara Team, which will allow her to improve significantly in terms of performance in the desert .

It will be a tougher race, with more sand and more sun, the perfect ingredients for Laia Sanz to continue to shine. This is what Laia herself expects, setting the goal of “progress” and perhaps “be among the top 15” in cars despite the great competition that this course will have. In addition to the 10 or 15 drivers who are always in all the pools to win the stages, Laia will have to face dozens of buggies from other structures and about 40 cars that jump in T1+.

“Dakar 2022 is an adventure. The truth is that I want to take the step on four wheels. And even though it was complicated because in the first week we had to start a little backwards, we learned a lot. This year with the small step we took in terms of the car, I think we can do better than last year”, pointed out Laia at the Dakar 2022 presentation.

“I want to improve”

“I want to improve, take a step forward. And with this car I made a big step forward. The driving style is very different and the dunes are probably the scariest, but it’s great, it’s a matter of changing the mentality to deal with the dunes in a different way. The whole ‘pack’ is more competitive than last year. I’m really looking forward to it because when I tried the car it gave me a very good feeling”, added Laia, already setting herself an ambitious goal.

“A goal? It’s not easy because of the super level of the cars today, but the goal is always to improve. In 2021 I’m 23rd. It’s going to be in the top 15, maybe. I know it’s very difficult, but I made a big step forward compared to last year, both on a personal level, driving, and on a car level. So we will try.”