The Dakar organization gathered its stars at the official press conference prior to Sunday's departure in Yeddah. Among the dozen elected, many of them multigamers (Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz, Toby Price, Nani Roma or Eduard Nikolaev), Fernando Alonso stood out. From the second row of the podium, the Toyota driver monopolized many of the journalists' questions. "I am here to see what the Dakar is like, but above all to finish it," he said.
The meeting with journalists took place at King Abdullah Sports City, the same stadium that will host the Spanish Super Cup next week. Alonso shared gestures of complicity with Sainz, Roma or Laia Sanz, located just to his right. His idea for the next two weeks in the car coincides with that relaxed atmosphere in front of the microphones.
"All Toyota drivers are here to win, but I'm here to enjoy," he revealed about his teammates Nasser Al-Attiyah, Giniel de Villiers and Bernhard Ten Brinke, candidates for victory with permission from Sainz and Peterhansel, both at the wheel of a Mini X-Raid.
The double winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with just 10 days of previous competition with the Toyota Hilux will face the race "with some calm." "I have not come to leave after the second or third day because of a stupid mistake," said Alonso.
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