Eryk Goczał is not a rookie like the others in the Challenger class. One year after becoming the youngest winner on the Dakar, by winning the SSV category at the age of 18 years, he is authoritatively dominating proceedings in his new category. The Polish rising star won his fifth special of the year in the Empty Quarter. Fifth was also his place in the overall car rankings for the stage, among the powerful T1 vehicles in the Ultimate class. He even had time to spare a thought for his father Marek during the two days, worried about the mechanical problems he had suffered. In the general rankings, Goczał junior already has a lead of one hour over his closest pursuer, Mitch Guthrie. Having devoted himself to his studies in 2023, he was not able to take part in the remainder of the W2RC after the Dakar. This year, he has the firm intention of completing the season and writing his name into the history books once again (why not?) by becoming, at the tender age of 19 years, the youngest winner of a rally-raid world title…
