Laia Sanz: “This is when there is the highest level in history, both in motorcycles and in cars”

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Laia Sanz (Corbera de Llobregat, 1985) has just returned to Spain after finishing the Dakar for the fourteenth time between motorcycles and cars. She managed to be classified in the fifteenth position on four wheels, which made her the first woman in the most difficult edition held in Saudi Arabia, and she was also the best for her.

Its reliability is beyond doubt. And so is his desire and his enthusiasm. The goal now is not to lose those strengths, but to get behind the wheel of a winning car at the “highest level in history.” To do this “you have to do things right” although sometimes it’s also a matter of having “a bit of luck, of being at the right time.” This was explained during a visit to the headquarters of the EFE agency.

Question: What feelings did you return from Dakar?

Answer: I came back happy, which is the goal. Before starting they asked me what my goal was and I always said it was to come back satisfied with the work we did, which means we did a good job. That’s how it happened. Last year we had the Dakar against the flow from the start, but this year we went through the first week without a problem, we enjoyed a clean stage at a good pace.

The second week, with small problems that did not allow us to achieve a better result, we were also very happy. We showed ourselves that we can be more ahead and we have to keep fighting to make it four out of four.

Q: Many say that this is the most difficult Dakar of all that took place in Saudi Arabia. Do you agree?

A: Yes, sure. But also the most beautiful. This hardness is somewhat missed, as is the 48-hour period. It was very difficult until the end, even on the last day. I liked it very much, very cool because of that philosophy of returning to the origin with longer stages, hardness, alternating terrain, difficult sand… it is without a doubt the best in Arabia.

Q: What is the best memory you have?

A: There are many moments while driving where you say, ‘I’m having fun and it’s a beautiful place.’ Moments in the sand that are hard to beat and give you so much fun. But I will probably remember the moment when I was fourth in a stage, although we did not finish the job. I knew we were going fast without going over the limit and I was even more upset to have trouble that day because it was a stage to be in the top ten.

Q: Has it been a more open Dakar?

A: More opportunities were given to young people, which did not happen. There are always four or five top officials and then it is difficult for anyone to compete with them. Today there is a young generation where some are taking chances and doing well. I hope it opens doors to people like me, who also want to get there. However, for me there are four or five drivers at the moment who alone can win the Dakar, an older generation with brutal speed.

Q: Does this show the importance of experience?

A: Absolutely. And in a race like the Dakar even more. Experience, know the car well… Carlos Sainz, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Mattias Ekström, Stéphane Peterhansel and Lucas Moraes have another point there.

Q: Every year you guarantee reliability, which is one of the most difficult things in the Dakar. Do you think it’s time for a title contender to bet on you? What do you think you need for this?

A: You have to do things well, but sometimes it’s also a matter of a bit of luck, being at the right time. Not easy. I am growing, I am showing reliability. In teams there are not only drivers to win, but also to help and why not join one like this to help those who aim higher. That will also make me grow and develop. Hopefully keep showing up so the opportunity comes one day. I’ve proven to be reliable, but I’m also on the run. It’s a career where you have to know yourself very well, and I’ve been good at that.

Q: Do you feel that even though there is already a female Dakar winner in cars like Jutta Kleinschmidt, there is a glass ceiling?

A: It’s not easy to get opportunities, but you also have to earn. I’m on track to do it. Today is difficult because it is when there is the highest level in history, both in motorcycles and in cars. There are so few official brands, it’s hard to have a place there. It’s a fish that bites its tail, if you don’t have the budget to go with a nice car it’s hard to prove anything no matter how well you make things. You have to try to climb every year until, I hope, the opportunity arises.

Q: This year there was a double Spanish victory, that of Carlos Sainz and that of Cristina Gutiérrez. How did you both experience success from within?

A: I am happy for them. Fortunately the titles are at home. So happy for Carlos, I know how hard he is. Also for Cristina. I think it’s positive and it opens doors. Also thanks to Extreme E, we saw that when we have opportunities, the girls there grow up and get better. We must give ourselves opportunities to show that we can do it too.

Q: There was also a tragic event, the death of Carles Falcón. When something like this happens… what goes through your mind?

A: You have a lot going on. Furthermore, since I have done it on a motorcycle, I can see it more closely. When you hear that you know you’ve been taking that risk for years too. You go there knowing what might happen, but it’s a shame. You put yourself in the place of the family and it is very difficult.

Q: Although in motorcycle you are more exposed… do you miss the adrenaline of that category?

A: On the one hand, I miss the daily life of preparing to ride a motorcycle, because I almost touch the car from Dakar to Dakar and with the motorcycle I have a rally bike at home and I can train as much What I want. I miss the preparation, the companions, the sands, the feeling of loneliness a little bit. But I don’t mind the risk, leaving each stage without knowing if you will return. The last two years have been difficult for me and I haven’t enjoyed it. I enjoyed the bike, but it was a bygone era.

Q: Will there be room for a mid-season Dakar or something like that?

A: I think not because the Dakar is unique and the magic of this race is that of the Olympic Games, if you do it every two years they will lose their essence. The Dakar is that special because it is once a year, you have to wait for the next one if it is not good. And if it goes well for you, you live happily throughout the year.

Q: How long does it take for the body and mind to recover from such an intense experience?

A: On a motorcycle, it took a long time, almost a month before I wanted to see. And feeling so empty, it took me two to three weeks to do anything again. Its cars are quite different. It takes a toll on you mentally, it’s even more stressful, but mentally it’s not that hard and I’m back wanting to rest, but also to train.

Source: La Verdad

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