DACIA

”We're very happy with our debut with Dacia. We won the Rallye du Maroc to round off last season and clinch a third title, then we finished fourth on the Dakar when we were fighting for victory, and here we've turned things around with another incredible win for myself, Edouard and the team. We're going to try to keep this momentum going and win the world championship. I've already been to South Africa twice. Once for testing, and again to race there in 2023. I know the terrain, it's more rally-style with gravel tracks. We'll be on Toyota's home turf, but as in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, there will be around ten Hilux and here Dacia won. It doesn't matter whether we're at home or not. We now have a good lead and the plan may be to finish on the podiums for the rest of the season. But we're working to win each races. We won in Portugal and Morocco last year, so the two rounds that await us next sound like a good plan!”

EB

• A trained engineer, Edouard Boulanger competed in his first Dakar on a motorbike in 2011 but did not finish.
• The Frenchman then specialised in navigation and became a talented mapman for the KTM and Toyota teams.
• He took the right-hand seat for the first time in 2014 with Australian Geoff Olholm (retirement) before joining Stéphane Peterhansel at Mini. For his first attempt in a leading vehicle, he won the 2021 Dakar. The Frenchmen continued to race together at Audi but with less success.
• Following the withdrawal of the German carmaker, this accomplished triathlete was selected by Nasser Al Attiyah for the 2024 season. It's a partnership working perfectly: three wins this year and a W2RC world championship title for both driver and co-driver.