Written by Phil Barker
One of the Dakar Rally’s most dependable drivers lines-up once again to do battle with the dunes in the 2020 edition. We take a look at Giniel De Villiers’s chances of claiming a second victory.
Giniel De Villiers may not have 13 Dakar Rally titles to his name like Stéphane Peterhansel, but the South African does have a hugely impressive racing history, with a CV that includes four domestic South African Touring Car Championships in a row.
Since first tackling the Dakar in 2003, where he finished a more than credible fifth place in a Nissan, De Villiers has an even more impressive stat up his sleeve: in 16 Dakar events, he’s never once failed to finish. The odds of him finishing the 2020 race as it moves to Saudi Arabia for the very first time are high, then, but he’s also a serious contender for the overall win in the Car class, too.
Category
De Villiers will be sticking to a car and team he knows well for the 2020 Dakar Rally, where once again he’ll be driving for for the Toyota Gazoo Racing in their rally-raid proven Hilux truck.
Co-driver
For the past 12 years, De Villiers has relied upon trusted co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz, but this year it’s all change, as the driving ace teams up with Spaniard Alex Haro. He’ll be in safe hands (and pace notes), as last year Haro helped navigate Joan ‘Nani’ Roma to a well deserved second place finish.
Race record
To have contested the Dakar Rally 16 times without suffering a mechanical failure or race-ending crash is an amazing feat and testament to De Villier’s fast, but mechanically sympathetic driving style. That efficiency helped De Villiers take victory at the Dakar Rally in 2009 and overall the 47-year-old has finished on the podium eight times.
Biggest rival
Unless the likes of Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Nasser Al-Attiyah suffer from mechanicals, or crashes, we can imagine De Villier battling it out for a final place on the podium against Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski.
In his own words
“I grew up on a farm and raced with whatever I could find,” De Villiers told Dakar.com. “It began when I was four in a pedal kart. My dad loved motor racing and he passed it on to me. I then got my start in circuit racing, notably in touring cars, before moving onto all-terrain. I still have the passion, if I didn’t I would do something else. Being in the battle procures incredible sensations. I still have this hunger and desire to win.”
Chances of success
De Villiers may not be the favourite to win the 2020 Dakar Rally, but we wouldn’t bet against his chances of making the podium. Furthermore, his uncanny ability of finishing the event come what may certainly gives him an outside chance of grabbing overall honours, especially in the new, unfamiliar terrain of Saudi Arabia’s desert. After all, to finish first, first you have to finish and all of the other pre-race favourites have abandoned the race at least once.
Source: Red Bull Content Pool