Whether because the team had Rúben Faria and Hélder Rodrigues as "engineers" for the return to victories 31 years later, or because this victory put an end to KTM's dominance that had been prolonged for too long for the competition's sake, Honda's victory at the Dakar in the two-wheel category made me happy.
Having said that, in the “hangover” of the race that this year was held for the first time in Saudi Arabia, one question struck my mind: Could it be that any brand managed to win the Dakar in the car and motorcycle category? A quick visit to Wikipedia revealed to me what I already suspected: this has never happened in the history of the competition.
At first glance, there is a simple explanation for why this is so. After all, not many brands produce cars and motorcycles.
In fact, taking into account the other categories, only two brands managed to accumulate victories: Mercedes-Benz, which has victories between trucks and cars (in 1983 it even managed to win in both categories simultaneously) and Yamaha, which has already won in the quad and motorcycles.
The BMW Example
Still, one more visit to the statistics of the race conceived by Thierry Sabine revealed to me that there are two exceptions to this rule: BMW and Honda.
As you know, until today, between the two brands only the German one tried to add to the glory achieved on two wheels a victory in the automobile category. That's why, after Honda's victory in this year's Dakar, I asked myself: why isn't Honda trying to do what no brand has done so far?
BMW's participation in the Dakar started with two wheels.
The pros of a possible attempt
Yes, I am well aware that the times in the automobile industry are not conducive to major sporting investments. However, I believe that a possible Honda participation in the automobile category could bring more benefits than losses.
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For starters, at a time when SUV/Crossovers dominate the market, Honda's participation in the Dakar in the car category would serve as an interesting way to advertise its more adventurous models.
After all, as much as the car industry has changed in recent years, it doesn't seem to me that a successful participation in the Dakar is bad publicity. To do so, just look at recent examples such as Peugeot with the 2008 and 3008 DKR, MINI with the Countryman and, going back a little further, Mitsubishi with the late Pajero.
In addition to this, Honda could see participation in the Dakar as a test bench for new technologies. Can you imagine the wonders that a model equipped with the same would do to the image of Honda's hybrid system to achieve a good result in the biggest marathon of all terrain?
Finally, among the reasons behind a hypothetical Honda participation in the Dakar car category, there is a more lyrical reason: the prestige of making history.
Can you imagine what it would be like to its already long history of sporting successes (ranging from the Moto GP to the Touring Championships, passing, of course, to Formula 1), that Honda could add an unprecedented victory in two categories of the Dakar? Better only if I managed to achieve them in the same year.
A hypothetical victory for Honda in the Dakar would make the brand join Mitsubishi and Toyota in the list of Japanese brands that won the Dakar.
The cons of this possible attempt
At first glance, the main obstacle to this endeavor by Honda would, of course, be the cost. Especially if we take into account that the industry lives in the era of "Politically Correct", with accountants having an increasing weight in the decisions of brands.
That said, I don't imagine it was easy to convince Honda's accountants to agree to give up a considerable amount of money to create a sports program designed to race in the desert.
Still, I believe that the brand's history (which has a strong tradition in motor sport) could come to help convince Honda's accountants.
Another “con” is the possibility of the project not going well. However, in this aspect I think that the methodical tendency that normally characterizes Japanese brands could help to reduce this risk.
Furthermore, despite being in the two-wheel category, Honda is not exactly a newcomer to the Dakar journey, having already the necessary experience to avoid “youthful mistakes”.
A dream (almost) impossible to fulfill
I am well aware that the possibility of Honda trying a double on the Dakar is quite remote. At the moment, in cars, the Japanese brand is involved in both Tourism and Formula 1 and, quite honestly, I don't think a participation in the Dakar car category is part of its plans.
Still, as a staunch fan of the biggest all-terrain event in the world, I have to paraphrase the famous José Torres who, when confronted about the national football team's chances of qualifying for the 1986 World Cup in a game against Germany in Stuttgart he said: “let me dream a little more”.
And yes, I dream of a Honda model tearing through the desert sands next to a motorcycle of the brand and, perhaps, making history, achieving a victory in both categories. After all, did the Civic Type OveRland we told you about a while ago seem fit for the Dakar or not?