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Rheinsberg (dpa) - Rally navigator Timo Gottschalk and his driver Jakub Przygonski set high goals at the Dakar Rally, which starts on January 3rd.
"The goal is the top five, the big goal is a place on the podium," the 46-year-old told the German press agency.
The 43rd edition of the legendary rally, which will run until January 15, will take place in Saudi Arabia for the second time.
The overall winner from 2011 knows about the strong competition this year too.
For example, the multiple Dakar winners Nasser Al-Attiyah from Qatar, the Spaniard Carlos Sainz and Stéphane Peterhansel from France showed strong early form at the Baja Ha'il dress rehearsal held in Saudi Arabia in mid-December and took the first three places .
The Brandenburg-Polish duo came in 13th and fifth in the two races.
"We have the speed to keep up," said Gottschalk, "but there are many imponderables."
Gottschalk has not forgotten the damage to the transmission in their Mini, which in the last edition had already ruined all dreams of the podium on the first stage.
“That was hard to take.
But you have to accept it, ”said Gottschalk, who this time navigates his partner through the desert in a Toyota Hilux.
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The corona fear also drives in the desert.
On the one hand, the fear of infection, on the other hand, Gottschalk, who has been a full-time rally navigator since 2005, worries whether the sponsors will stay on board after the season highlight: “There is a queasy feeling about this this year Joy overshadows. "
Dakar Rally website