Desafio Ruta 40: Dakar’s line-up in the most important round of the season

The fourth round of the FIM World Cup might turn out to be the most important one and decide on the final order in the classification. The top three competitors stand only three points apart, and even though they are in for the Morocco Rally in October, it is the Argentinian routes of Desafio Ruta 40 that might be of key importance. Rafał Sonik is currently on the second place in the classification, but he promised that he would fight tooth and nail until the very last kilometre to defend his trophy that he has held for the past four years.

There are as many as 33 quad riders on the starting line-up at Desafio Ruta 40. Nine of them compete in the World Cup series. Next to the greatest rivals of our Polish master – Alexis Hernandez and Kees Koolen, the ranks of the competitors include experienced and long-time Dakar’s participants: Pablo Copetti, who was third in the last edition of the super marathon, Jeremias Gonzales Feroli and Walter Nosiglia – second and third result, respectively, in Dakar Rally 2015, incredibly experienced Lucas Innocente, winner of the prestigious Merzouga Rally Nico Cavigliasso, or Gustavo Gallego – winner of the April’s edition of Desafio Ruta 40.

‘I know most of my most dangerous rivals very well and… I can’t wait to compete with them. I know it won’t be easy, because apart from Kees Koolen, each and every one of them knows these routes much better than me. And yet, I’ve proven this many times in the past that I’m not afraid to take a stand against the “Argentinian coalition”. This is simply extra motivation. I know that I’m alone here and I have to cope with it. Their driving style follows the “beat the master” rule; I need to be more clever and to do my very best every day. And this is the plan,’ promised Sonik, before the beginning of the rally.

The knee injury that the World Cup title defender suffered in June, during the Sardegna Rally, is still an issue. ‘The pain intensity while driving largely depends on the specific character of the terrain that we drive through. Whenever we fight for every single minute and the stakes are so high, emotions and this sport fury are the best medicine you can buy. They were exactly what helped me keep up with the leaders during Atacama Rally,’ he emphasized.

The route of Desafio Ruta 40 surely won’t make it to the list of the pleasant ones. It leads through the areas well-known from the Dakar Rally, including Fiambala, which all riders truly hate. ‘This is a place forgotten by God. I don’t know any man who would like to live there out of their own free will. During Dakar, it’s hot as hell. Now it’ll be much cooler, but I still can’t imagine anyone will feel any pleasure while driving there in that desert. All we need to do is survive it,’ concluded Sonik.

The Argentinian rally begins on Saturday, 26 August. The prologue is planned for 10.00 p.m., Warsaw time. After the prologue, there will be an official start ceremony at one of the main streets of the city of San Juan. Five days into the rally, the riders will reach Tucuman on 31 August.

World Cup Classification:

1. Alexis Hernandez (PER) 53
2. Rafał Sonik (POL) 51
3. Kees Koolen (NLD) 50
4. Rodolfo Guillioli (GUA) 38
5. Al-Musallam (KUW) 6,2 Casale (CHL) 25
6. Kamil Wiśniewski (POL) 23