Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (pictured), one of the most prominent drivers in the world of motorsports and rallying, is getting ready for one of the most difficult off-road courses to date, the Dakar Rally 2018.
The two-time Dakar champion has claimed multiple global and regional titles throughout several cross-country rally categories and it has been a successful year for him.
Al Attiyah won the FIA Cross-Country World Cup and the Middle East Rally Championship this year and the veteran driver has since set the Dakar Rally as his next target.
Now representing team Toyota Gazoo Racing, Al Attiyah aims to win his third Dakar title while bringing Team Toyota their first Dakar victory.
The 40th edition of Dakar will encompass a 14-day campaign will be held throughout the wilderness of South America, in a course designed to push drivers to their absolute limits.
“I think Dakar 2018 will be very, very special for everybody. It will be hard, not easy. You need to have a good strategy,” claimed Al Attiyah.
The 47-year-old has been making extensive preparations as he approaches an extraordinary Dakar season. The new vehicle means greater performance and durability throughout the race but will require Al Attiyah to adapt to the new setup and handling brought fourth. He plans to take on this season with absolute efficiency, minimizing any chances for errors.
“Toyota is building a new car, completely different from the old car. New chassis and a new position inside the car, you cannot compare it to the old car. We need to work a lot and drive to learn the new Toyota”
More on his preparations for the Dakar Rally, “Nasser’s Road to Dakar 2018” is a special series that follows Al Attiyah as he gets ready, his car and his team for the toughest and most ambitious off-road race. A detailed series called Road to Dakar is available on the official Red Bull website, www.redbull.com and on Red Bull TV.
The series was launched yesterday with the first episode, January 4, 2018 with the second episode, and a full recap episode on the rally that will be release later in January 2018 after the race.
The Dakar Rally will begin on January 6, 2018 and drivers and riders will compte for 14 days.
