Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz have presented the new car with which they will participate in the Dakar Rally 2020 and have been positive in the face of this new competition and likely to fight against Toyota.

The terrain on this Dakar will be totally new for Carlos Sainz and his co-driver, Lucas Cruz: " The big question we have is what we are going to find . Apparently, the first week of the race has a bit more stone features, a terrain that could give us some problems. The second week is a land of sand, dune, desert, "Sainz explained in the presentation of the car.

This year they will run again with the Mini two-wheel drive and both drivers are happy for the changes made this year. " This is going to be the third Dakar of Mini . The first Dakar suffered a lot, last year the car was reasonably fast, but we sinned to have tire pressure failures and last year for the terrain this was fundamental. It did not create a lot of problems, but this year is solved, "said the two-time Dakar Rally champion.

Carlos was very happy with the changes of the new car. "We are very excited and both Lucas and I believe that we will be able to beat Toyota. We have worked on the weight of the car. The importance of the weight is fundamental and we have improved this, which gives us a margin of improvement compared to others. to be able to better notice that advantage of having less weight. "

"Toyota is our main rival"

" Toyota is our main rival in this Dakar. The other drivers are very good too, but both we and Stéphane are prepared . The Toyota being a 4x4 and having less travel, the pace that the two carry, has surprised us. If the terrain It is better for us with stones, our tires, having a larger diameter, favor us. Our pace is the key, we have to try to spend the days and things happen, "said Sainz.

The pilots have been training near Saudi Arabia and the first sensations have been positive: " We have not trained exactly where the test will be but you do sense how the terrain will be . A lot of open terrain, which we think dust can be a problem. he was surprised that at 5:00 p.m. it is night and he who says goodbye will finish the stage at night, "he said.

Carlos Sainz had a few words for Fernando Alonso who will participate for the first time. "The first participation is very difficult, it is a competition that is very far from Formula 1. He has prepared himself physically and even more than we thought. He has done enough kilometers, but I do not think he is a rival this Dakar , fight the first year to win is difficult, but we already know that not everything is said in the Dakar. I wish Fernando all the best and that he does very well, "he concluded.

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