“What are my goals? I want to finish in the top 10 at the Dakar. Of course I think I’ll win, but I’m focused on finishing in the top 10.” This was said by Pau Navarro in a project presentation for the That may be a normal expression of intention from a veteran driver who belongs to the top category of Dakar cars. But it’s amazing that this phrase was uttered by a pilot with the face of a child, still 19 years old, with the incredible calmness of someone preparing to play on a console. However, there is a big difference. This will be his first time behind the wheel of a top-class car in the world’s toughest race since he debuted in the light car category (T4) last year at the age of 18.

The young man from Llagostera has gone from a small car with 170 horsepower to an impressive monster, a desert giant like the MINI T1+, with more than 350 horsepower. The 19-year-old will be competing against one of the best teams, X-Raid. X-Raid is the team where Carlos Sainz so far won his last Dakar title (2020), or the team that great stars have won so far. Nasser Al-Attiyah, Stéphane Peterhansel, Nani Roma and others.

Pau made his competitive debut at the 2021 Dakar Rally as a truck co-driver at the age of 16, taking advantage of a loophole in the law to become the youngest participant in history (in a vehicle that does not allow entry until the legal age). But as a truck co-driver, he could do it; I could do it). His father, FN Speed ​​Team owner Santi Navarro, gave him the opportunity to move into the driver’s position and he made his debut behind the wheel of a T4 as a driver at the T4 Dakar last year. He shined, finishing in the top 10 in a highly competitive category against far more experienced drivers. In 2023, Santi Navarro wanted to give him options for development and made his debut in the Morocco Rally in a Toyota T1 (lower than T1+). To everyone’s surprise, with that vehicle he outperformed many participants who were driving his T1+. MINI came looking for him in order to secure his future talent, which would facilitate his step up to become a “champion” in the Dakar’s highest class. And he didn’t hesitate.

Everyone gets nervous and extremely nervous when facing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But Pau Navarro looked calm and confident in his abilities, as if what lay ahead of him was normal. He showed the spirit of a champion. And although he recognizes there is still a lot to learn, he has made it clear that he has no intention of going to Dakar to walk around. He wants the best fight.

“I started racing in June 2022 and finished third in a World Championship event. From there I trained and arrived at Dakar with some experience, but very little experience. We had some mechanical issues in the 2023 Dakar, but we were able to take first place.”Achieving top nine in your first experience is very good, but we could do better. I showed that I can do it,” Pau Navarro said at last year’s T4 premiere.

“At home, having arrived from Saudi Arabia, we have already started working on the next Dakar. Whether it’s lunch or dinner, we only talk about how to make a Dakar.” Let’s talk about the atmosphere of the owner. structure.

“This car has much bigger wheels. In Morocco, in my first race with a big car, I managed to get into the T1+ cars with a much inferior car after just a few kilometers. “The T4 doesn’t have a gearbox, so I had never driven it with a gearbox until Morocco. I arrived in Morocco and had good results. We showed that we had good pace on some stages and were getting in front of very good people. From there we talked to X-Raid and “X-Raid offered to let me race his car,” he recalled.

“For the first few days I try to adapt to the machine and always know what kind of reflexes I have. Then from about day five I try to maintain the pace that I want to maintain,” Pau said. Navarro said. He had already told MD ahead of Dakar 2023 one of the biggest characteristics of the new generation driver. He played official Dakar matches during the pandemic and learned how to operate the PlayStation. From there, he jumped into the passenger seat of a truck at age 16. Years later, he is facing the trials of his life at just his 19 years old and has a big future ahead of him. Pau Navarro, remember his name.