Dakar Classic 2023
The day that racing resumed also coincided with a new geographical direction. The Dakar competitors are set to tackle the southeast quarter of Saudi Arabia, with the dunes of the Empty Quarter in their sights, which are likely to be determining in the outcome of the 2023 edition. In the meantime, the riders, drivers and crews had not totally left behind them the zone recently drenched by rain but did battle among dunes that were more accessible … though only if they showed them the necessary respect
One day is very much like another at the top of the regularity rankings in the Dakar Classic. The Spanish couple who finished 106th last year behind the wheel of a Panda and who returned for their second attempt with a HDJ 80 have not made the slightest mistake. They are like lone rangers at the opposite end of the scale from the 9 teams ranked last on equal points. This is not happening by chance, because they have all accumulated the maximum number of penalties. For them, the important thing is not to win, but to take part and sometimes in a totally assumed manner. Such is the case for crew number 725 made up of the Dutch couple named Kamp and their CX. It is in tribute to the first two-wheel drive car to finish the Dakar in 1981 that they have entered in this Citroën coupé, one used by the Presidents of the French Republic at the time, but also by Thierry Sabine when carrying out reconnoitring in 1979 for the 2nd Paris-Dakar. At the time, the French constructor was a partner of this motorsport adventure. The AMSAM doctors, who were equipped with ten Meharis in 1980, remember this more than anyone else, since they had covered the entire route!
