Profitable the Dakar Rally is among the issues that each driver on the earth goals of, however it’s one thing that only a few can obtain. Whether or not by high quality or luck, you additionally want the help of an excellent crew, corresponding to Toyota, which, with Nasser Al Attiyah, has received three Touareg trophies within the final six editions.
Nonetheless, the Japanese producer now not has the Qatari in its ranks, so it determined to go for youth and name on somebody who impressed in his rookie 12 months within the prime class of the hardest race on the planet: Lucas Moraes, a Brazilian who confirmed what he was able to by coming third in opposition to a complete armada of legends.
When Motorsport.com spoke to him about what it meant to symbolize his crew and be the alternative for a five-time Dakar Rally winner, he mentioned: “It is an honour to symbolize this crew, Toyota Gazoo Racing is certainly one of, if not the perfect, crew. To be in Nasser’s [Al-Attiyah] footwear is an enormous duty, however I do know that no one can ever substitute Nasser.
“He is a five-time [Dakar Rally] champion, and among the finest on the grid, nevertheless it’s an honour to strive my greatest and provides the crew good outcomes,” mentioned the brand new Toyota driver, who was in a position to choose up his first stage win through the first week of the 2024 version. “We received a stage, which was spectacular.
One of the crucial attention-grabbing issues about his story is how he was approached to hitch the crew: “The talks got here with the information that Nasser was leaving the crew, they usually began after the results of final 12 months’s Dakar. Once I received the decision from Alain [Dujardyn, Toyota director], it was a dream come true.”
Nonetheless, Lucas Moraes is left with probably the most vital elements for Brazilian motorsport: “Final 12 months once we received the rostrum, it was an honour to symbolize the nation, as a result of it had by no means been performed earlier than. I used to be in a position to do it, and this week too, as a result of we received the third stage and I acquired plenty of messages, so it is good to symbolize this flag and to maintain doing it like this.”
He additionally has the invaluable assist of Armand Monleon as co-driver, a Spaniard who is aware of what he’s doing guiding the driving force: “He is among the greatest co-drivers on the market, we get alongside very nicely, so, to date, so good. He is good, like I mentioned, we get alongside very nicely, he has plenty of expertise of the bikes, he is very technical, and really exact on the navigation facet, which is vital to provide me confidence, in order that’s vital.”
Though all this is able to additionally not be attainable with out key merchandise for his using, and the Brazilian can boast that he has all the things new from the Sparco vary, with the Future line together with gloves, overalls and boots: “It is excellent to have the sponsorship of an iconic model in motorsport. They supply me with all the things from the racing fits to the underwear we use.
“The merchandise are superb, and they’re utilized by the perfect drivers, together with us, so I’ve to say thanks for having the ability to work with them,” defined the Brazilian, who highlighted two key parts on the earth of motorsport. “I believe the consolation and the standard of the swimsuit is excellent. It is excellent, you are able to do all the things with it, so it is good.”
On whether or not he would advocate it to some other teammate within the Dakar Rally bivouac, the Toyota driver did not hesitate for a second, and in addition identified two merchandise which might be the perfect for him: “Sure, after all, the Sparco merchandise are the perfect I’ve ever had, and I like to recommend them. I just like the overalls, and in addition the underwear we use. It is very, very snug, so it is excellent”.
