Repsol Portugal presented to the media the Repsol teams, drivers and riders, that will take part in the 2006 Lisbon Dakar
After the presentation yesterday in Madrid, of the teams, drivers and riders for the coming 28th edition of the Dakar, which will this time have its start in the emblematic city of Lisbon, today, the Portuguese media had the chance to meet the members of the Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart and Repsol KTM teams. Stephane Peterhansel, Luc Alphand, Nani Roma, Marc Coma, Giovanni Sala and Carlo De Gavardo, joined by Isao Torii, Mitsubishi Motor Sport President, Dominique Serieys, Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart Team Manager, and Javier Inclán, Repsol YPF Sponsoring Manager, met the media representatives in a relaxed atmosphere, sharing with them the secrets of the desert, of the big adventure they will be facing at the Dakar, and talked about their aims in this year’s rally, which include the victory in both classes. A special highlight was the presence of the two Portuguese participants supported by the oil company, who will take part in the race having as main objective to reach the finish in Dakar: Paulo Marques in the car class with a Mitsubishi Proto, and Paulo Gonçalves in motorbikes with a Honda CRF 450. They will be counting on the support of all Portuguese fans at the start of this edition of the Dakar Rally, at the end of December, in Lisbon.
The city of Lisbon, host to the start of the Dakar Rally for the first time in December, will witness how its streets will be crowded with participants, team services and journalists the last days of the year. On December 28, 29 and 30, the participants will be submitting their machines to scrutineering. The first 83-kms special of the raid will be staged on December 31, to reach the Portuguese town of Portimao, after covering the first 370 kms of the Dakar. On January 1, participants will face the second special (115 kms) and will cover a total of 567 kms that will take them to Malaga where they will embark together with their motorbikes and cars to head for Nador, already on African grounds, to start the 9,000 kms to be covered until January 15 to reach the finish line at Lake Rose, in the Senegalese city of Dakar.
