F1Weekly Podcast # 885

NASIR IS BEGINING TO FEEL SOME SIMPATHY FOR THE OLD ALONSO FAN AS LCH CONTINUES TO RACK UP THE WINS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH ONE CONTENDER NIPPING AT HIS HEELS!

AND LOOK…RALLY IN ANDALUCIA ESPANA!!

Returning to Spain this week to defend his Rally Andalucia title is three-time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah. The Qatari ace and his French co-driver Mathieu Baumel scored podium finishes on all four stages last year in Spain The pair are targeting a repeat performance in their Toyota Hilux this time around.

“We have lots of competitors here and we will have to be at our best to defend our title.” – Nasser Al-Attiyah

Carlos Sainz had to settle for a runners-up finish in his native Spain at the 2020 Rally Andalucia, now he’s back and aiming to put the record straight. Sainz is also a three-time Dakar winner with his latest success coming last year alongside long-time co-driver and fellow Spaniard Lucas Cruz.

This rally is an important part of my preparations for next year’s Dakar.” – Carlos Sainz

Also behind the wheel of a MINI John Cooper Works Rally in Andalucia will be Laia Sanz. The top placed female biker at the last 11 editions of the Dakar will race her first ever rally-raid in a car this week. Sanz will have plenty of support as she embarks on a new chapter of her racing career. She is once again a team-mate of her Extreme E partner Sainz and reading the roadbook will be her compatriot Dani Oliveras.

“I’m so happy to be racing a MINI in Andalucia, it’s a great opportunity to learn in a competitive vehicle.” – Laia Sanz

Another driver who will tackle their first rally-raid in a car is Mattias Ekström. The former DTM and WRX champion rode his first Dakar Rally earlier this year in a Yamaha YXZ1000R side-by-side machine. Now Ekström has switched to a MINI John Cooper Works Buggy and will race alongside fellow Swede Emil Bergkvist in Spain.

Play Podcast: 05-11-21f1weekly885.mp3