After two years out of competition, the Portuguese is back in the Dakar with the official Renault Duster Dakar Team. Almadense dreams of a result in the top ten, even due to the potential revealed by Duster in previous editions, in which he won two third places in stages.
The national pilot admits that “I was far from imagining that he would be back in the Dakar. I was relaxed at home when I received a phone call with the honorable and undeniable invitation from the Renault Duster Dakar Team. Despite not having run for two years, the adrenaline rose immediately and, the truth is, I can't wait to sit at the controls of Duster.”
Clean the «spiders»
For the first days of December, a preparation test is planned. “A particularly important session for me”, recognizes Carlos Sousa. “I'm going to ride, for the first time, with Duster and I'm going to try to recover the rhythm lost in two years without competitions. A test that is scheduled for a desert zone in Argentina.”
As the national driver admits, “the lack of rhythm is one of my biggest concerns, as I haven't sat in a competition car for two years. For this reason, the test will be important, even to get to know Duster at least. In fact, I'm quite curious to drive it, even because, for me, it marks the return to cars equipped with gasoline engines.”
A "luxury" browser
Next to Carlos Sousa, «singing» the notes, will be the Frenchman Pascal Maimon. One of the navigators with more experience on the Dakar and winner of the race in 2002, alongside Japanese Hiroshi Masuoka.A navigator who was once a rival and with whom Carlos Sousa has cemented a friendly relationship over the years. “As soon as my name appeared on the provisional list of entries, Pascal called straight away to ask if this was the one we were going to partner with. The deal was settled at the time! It is one of the references of the modality in the art of navigation. Your record says it all about your experience and competence. He's also an expert in mechanics, so the choice couldn't be more right.”
ambitious goals
For those who, until a few days ago, were zapping on the couch — we are exaggerating, of course — Carlos Sousa's goals are, to say the least… ambitious.
Carlos Sousa does not hide that “I dream of achieving a result in the top ten. I am aware that expectations are very high, considering the quality of the list of entries, but I believe in this possibility and in Duster's competitiveness. As a matter of fact, I have very much in my mind the top-3 conquered in some stages, results that are only possible to obtain with a competitive car”.
The truth is that «who knows, you won't forget», and Carlos Sousa continues to be one of the best Portuguese off-road drivers.