South Racing, the Germany-based car preparation company, is preparing to run a pair of Toyota Hiluxes for the Australian driver Peter Jerie and Bolivian Marco Bulacia in the gruelling Dakar Rally, starting in Buenos Aires.
Jerie won the prestigious Dakar Series in South America last year and that has given the Czech-born Australian untold confidence ahead of the 12-stage Dakar Rally.
Jerie and French navigator Laurent Lichtleuchter claimed outright victory in the 2015 Desafio Guarani across Paraguay and that, coupled with third place in Argentina’s Desafio Ruta 40, was sufficient for the Toyota Hilux crew to claim the Dakar Series title.
Lichtleuchter was not available for the Dakar outing and has been replaced by the experienced Australian WRC and special stage rally navigator Dale Moscatt.
“I love South America and am looking forward to challenges ahead,” enthused Jerie. “We won the Dakar Series and, with my new co-driver Dale Moscatt, I have a very experienced Australian navigator alongside me. I have known him since the Australian Safari 12 years ago. He was competing in WRC races in Europe and had always thought about doing the Dakar. He was the first person I called. Our ambition is to finish strongly.”
Bolivian driver Marco Bulacia and his Argentinean navigator Ruben Garcia crew the second of the South Racing-run Toyotas. This will be Bulacia’s sixth successive Dakar outing. After retiring in 2011 and 2012, the Bolivian finished 46th, 30th and 44th in the last three seasons and is excited about car competitors crossing the Bolivian high plateau and punishing salt flats for the first time on this occasion.
The crew made an impressive debut with South Racing at Portugal’s Baja Portalegre 500 in October and finished sixth overall.
“The South Racing Toyota Hilux is a big step forward from my previous cars and Ruben and I are proud to be representing Bolivia on this Dakar. We hope to have a strong race and come into Bolivia in a good position for the people of my country.”
Founded in 2013, South Racing is also heavily involved in running a pair of Ford Rangers in this year’s 12-stage event for the Spanish former WRC star Xavier Pons and Chilean driver Daniel Mas Valdes in a joint venture project with DMAS and Esponsorama.
The Dakar Rally starts in Buenos Aires tomorrow (Saturday) with the ceremonial send-off in front of millions of fans and a global television audience. Then a capacity entry of cars, bikes and quads tackles an 11km Prologue stage that will determine the starting order for the first 258km stage between Rosario and the town of Vila Carlos Paz on Sunday.
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