A meeting of pioneers remembering the origins of Spain’s toughest rally: “The African Dakar marked us all”

Rarely have so many Dakar legends come together in the same space. however, College of Journalists of Catalonia Combined with the participation of all the Spanish pilots who met this Wednesday, we will have hundreds of experiences to review. Logically, it is impossible to talk about them all, but many have reflected on some of their experiences in Dakar, which took place in Africa in the last century. Juan Polcal, Pep Vila, Xavi Foy, Lucas Cruz, Hansi Babler, João Gracia, Jaime Pucci, Carlos Sotelo, Carles Mas There are many iconic names for cars, motorcycles, trucks, etc.

Jose Antonio PonsetiJournalist with years of experience covering the world’s toughest rallies and author of the bookwhen we were pilots“There, all the experiences of this first generation of Spaniard Dakarians are told,” said the speaker, who moderated the lecture. Juan Polcal forbade intervention and spoke words shared by all. Dakar in Africa commemorated our lives” explained the Catalan, who also thanked Ponseti’s book for creating a whole generation of pilots.

”I was lucky enough to attend the last Dakar in Africa, but that has nothing to do with this Dakar. Now both specials and camps are more like sprints. The pace changes completely and the car allows you to do more. Previously, cars could withstand what they could withstand,” Lucas Cruz added.

Hansi Babler also remembered the time in 1992 when she almost lost her life after falling off a 70 meter cliff, but continued her passion when she went from Paris to Cape Verde. “When I arrived in Barcelona, ​​my hands hurt from greeting so many people in France, but now everything has evolved a lot.”

“I have completed the Dakar 35 times, but this year I have to stay here (home). I have believed this since I started racing.” Dakar always has the best technology and the best of the moment. But by then there was nothing left. Catering has become like F1 and MotoGP. In Africa, there was always some sort of problem, such as the Chad civil war or al-Qaeda a few years later,” recalled Xabi Fauzi.

“We were aiming for an adventure, but now it’s become more like a career,” Jordi Giubanteny said. “In fact, I think this race had a huge impact on our lives. Our first contact was when Toni Soler suggested that we take a client to Dakar and walk behind the race during the final stages of the race.” I was one of the people who found the child shot on the hood. Because a crazy man shot him.. It could have been us, but I have run the Dakar 13 times and finished it 12 times,” Pep Vila recalled.

“What’s different now is that before there was fear, in Africa it was scary to stand in the middle of the Tenere, because you knew you could die there. Now it’s pure show and they’re incredibly fast,” Ramon Vila explained.

That is, the accumulation of experiences that may have turned an hour-long meeting into a trip to the past that may last for days. A rejoice for all Dakar enthusiasts. Many generations have not experienced it, but the memories of past heroes have left their mark. An indelible trace.