F1Weekly podcast #778

CLARK AND NASIR CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR WITH A LITTLE CHIT CHAT ON THE UPCOMING F1 SEASON AND ALL THE OTHER RACING ACTIVITIES AROUND THE GLOBE.

LOOSH ON THE LOOSE IS BACK WITH HIS OPINION! AND… GET READY FOR THE DAKAR RALLY BEGINNING ON JANUARY 6.

With the 2019 Dakar Rally now just three days away the excitement surrounding the event is screaming through the gears. As race crews arrive in Peru there’s plenty of speculation over who will walk away with the big prizes. The teams and drivers who have conquered the Dakar in previous years have plenty of expectation on them to get the better of the dunes once again.

Among the favourites in the car category are the trio of drivers in the X-raid MINI JCW Team. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA), Carlos Sainz (ESP) and Cyril Despres (FRA) have an incredible 20 Dakar victories between them and all have ambitions to park on the top step of the podium in 2019. With so much talent and experience within their ranks, could we see a MINI John Cooper Works Buggy take the chequered flag in Lima, Peru on January 17?

“The Dakar challenges you in every way both physically and mentally. It taxes all your strength and that of your team, so victory brings maximum satisfaction.” – Carlos Sainz, defending car race champion.

Sébastien Loeb (FRA) returns to the Dakar this year for his fourth attempt at the rally. The Frenchman is yet to win the desert classic, but has made his mark with a total of 10 stage victories and a second place finish in 2017. Loeb will set off from the Peruvian capital on January 7 behind the wheel of a Peugeot 3008DKR. The nine-time WRC winner has recently refamiliarised himself with the car he previously drove at the Dakar during an intense training session.

“Several teams will have a shot at winning and I hope we are one of them.” – Sébastien Loeb

Play Podcast: 01-04-19f1weekly778.mp3