Dakar 2024 started in style, with a 100% Dakar stage, very long, with a lot of broken terrain and a lot of rocks. As if that was not enough, Joan Font and Borja Rodríguez had the worst luck, because in addition to leaving in a very late position and an hour later than expected –due to an accident at the head of the caravan– , night came. to them in the most technical and complex part of the special.
For Joan Font, finishing a stage at night in Dakar is nothing new, but traveling through the dark 200 kilometers of rocky terrain for the first time is a challenge and a reality check. “The Dakar really started,” he summed up as he finished the special in 25th position in the SSV category, 2 hours and 48 minutes behind the winner.
“What we did was try to be consistent and not make mistakes in a stage that is very long and difficult, with a lot of dust and a lot of rocks. Starting late is an additional difficulty, because we have more than 400 kilometers of special ahead us and we also started between the trucks,” explained the driver from Vic.
And the stage, which ran on the tracks in its first half, became very complicated in the second part, where they tried to stay calm so as not to experience any setback, such as a puncture, which would be more complicated upon arrival. “We have been keeping a close eye on the stones, I don’t think I have ever seen so many!” he added.
The most positive note is that the Can-Am Maverick is a prototype. The definitive test is this Sunday, where another very long stage awaits them, 462 kilometers, with 30 kilometers of sand at the start of the special connecting Al Henakiyah and Al Duwadimi.
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.
