SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 12 A TDT EXCLUSIVE Conquering the Dakar Rally Bahrain Raid Xtreme confident of making competitive debut in gruelling race’s 2021 edition in Saudi Arabia in January TDT | Manama ahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) are in high spirits as they Bhead into the final lead-up to the 2021 Dakar Rally, which takes place in Saudi Arabia from January 3 to 15, starting and fin- ishing in Jeddah. BRX, a joint venture between Mumtalakat and world-lead- ing British motorsport business Prodrive, have been busy for much of the past couple of years developing the cars that will be taking on the challenge, and with the big event just weeks away, BRX team director and Prodrive founder and chairman David David Richards, CBE BRX drivers Nani Roma, left, and Sebastien Loeb, second from right, with their navigators during testing Richards, CBE, is looking for- pect. We’ve made the changes, sporting challenge. ward to making a strong debut. modified the cars as we’ve gone “Saudi has one of the most Richards has claimed six along, but when the event starts unique places in the world,” World Rally Championship ti- You need to do thousands and thousands in the beginning of January, I’m Richards says. “For having such tles, five Le Mans wins and expe- of kilometres of testing to find all the little sure we’ll encounter other is- diversity and ideal terrain for rience leading successful teams problems you are likely to encounter in an KNOW WHAT sues that I’m sure we weren’t an event like Dakar—mountains, in Formula 1. However, the Da- event. We’ve made the changes, modified the anticipating. deserts, dunes—it’s a perfect kar is the challenge he has yet cars as we’ve gone along, but when the event “It will be very unusual to ex- venue for the event. to undertake, and for Bahrain, starts in the beginning of January, I’m sure we’ll pect a win first time out, but I “I’m very pleased to see that. BRX is the nation’s latest foray The team’s T1 car fully expect us to be highly com- My history in the Middle East in motorsport. encounter other issues that I’m sure we weren’t builds on Prodrive’s petitive. It’s a quick car.” goes back to 1976 when I organ- BRX have the ultimate driver anticipating. It will be very unusual to expect experience competing Richards is excited about tak- ised the first rally in Kuwait. pairing of Nani Roma and Sebas- a win first time out, but I fully expect us to be at the highest levels ing on the unique Saudi terrain, Shortly afterwards, I came to tien Loeb piloting the team’s two highly competitive. It’s a quick car of world motorsport which was showcased to the Bahrain the following year and T1 cars. The T1 is a four-wheel- world for the first time in the organised an internationall rally BRX TEAM DIRECTOR DAVID RICHARDS, CBE for over three decades drive (FWD) vehicle powered previous edition of the Dakar in Bahrain. by a 3.5-lintre turbo-charged “Sebastien describes it just impressed by it. Very positive and has been styled by held earlier this year. “So I’ve watched motorsport petrol V6 engine. It has been like a World Rally car, FWD with feedback from both the drivers.” Ian Callum, one of the The course for next year is in the Middle East develop from undergoing an intensive testing a turbo which he is used to driv- With decades of experience world’s leading motor- brand new and the most unfor- the Grand Prix circuit in Bahrain programme over the past several ing, albeit a little heavier and in various categories of motor- sport designers giving one to date. Teams will to other events around the Gulf. weeks in the UK and Dubai, and larger. sport, Richards understands the be tested to the limit across 11 Now watching Saudi Arabia Richards says that the feedback “Nani has done a lot of the complications a team can face in “I expect us to be competi- stages, spanning thousands of open up is very exciting.” from Roma and Loeb has been testing and has done a great job; their first appearance in a race tive and I expect us to be very miles that will include dunes, BRX’s equipment has already tremendously encouraging. he tells me in all the conditions such as the Dakar. He therefore quick. The car has certainly desert and rocks. Alongside the begun making its way to Jeddah, “Both of them are very posi- it handles exceptionally, even admits that expecting a victory proven that in testing. You need all-new route, rally organisers while the team members are tive about the car,” Richards told the sand dunes in the different this year for BRX is “unusual”, to do thousands and thousands have unveiled a set of new regu- scheduled to fly out after Christ- TDT in an exclusive interview. areas as well. He’s been very but he is fully confident that they of kilometres of testing to find lations, designed to increase the mas for the 2021 Dakar. will be competitive. all the little problems you are “Nobody’s ever had a victory likely to encounter in an event. How was BRX established? Team the first time out with a new car,” We’ve been in the UAE testing Roma-Loeb form formidable partnership director David Richards, CBE, explains: Richards explains. “New cars, for two months now, we’ve done RX will have Spaniard Nani Roma and Frenchman Sebastien inevitably in an event like this, thousands of kilometres and BLoeb in their two cars for the 2021 Dakar Rally. t started over two years ago. Prodrive started designing a turn up some problems you ha- they’ve experienced the usu- Roma has previously won the Dakar both on a bike and in a “Icar for the Dakar. We decided that we’ve done cross-coun- ven’t experienced during testing. al such problems as you’d ex- car, and joins BRX with a wealth of experience that will prove try events a long time ago, and we were looking at new regula- invaluable as the team prepares for one of the biggest challenges tions and new motorsport categories that we thought we could in motorsport. He has competed in 24 Dakar Rallies, not having get involved in. The Dakar looked perfect for our skill-set and missed an event since 1996. He competed for the first nine years the capabilities of our company. on a bike, claiming victory in 2004, before switching disciplines “I came to the Bahrain Grand Prix and was chatting with to compete in cars—taking his second Dakar victory in 2014. This His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and we talked about the makes 48-year-old Roma one of only three people to ever win Dakar Rally. At the time, they had just announced Saudi Arabia, the Dakar on both two and four wheels. and he said wouldn’t it be a good idea if Bahrain was involved Loeb has more than 20 years of rally experience–having won in it somehow. That was the start of the discussion. Clearly it the World Rally Championship a record nine times in a row. The went on some time later. It needed to be a commercially viable 46-year-old is no stranger to the Dakar Rally, having made his proposition from our points of view. maiden appearance in 2016 before featuring for four consecutive “It’s a long-term partnership for five years. We will be building years, claiming two podiums in the process. Loeb has also added customer competition cars as well. After this Dakar, we already to his experience in the FIA World Touring Championship, 24 have the first three cars agreed for different customers and will Hours of Le Mans, X Games, Formula 1 tests, and the FIA GT participate in future events.” Series. The BRX T1 car in action during tests Muharraq, Samaheej claim victories in basketball league TDT | Manama Muharrq led by as many as 15 red hot from beyond the arc, fir- points in the contest. Sitra were ing in five three-pointers, while uharraq registered a hard- able to get within seven points in also grabbing 14 boards. Husain Mearned 88-78 victory over the fourth, but no closer. Safar was Sitra’s only other play- Sitra last night to continue their American professional Mur- er in double-figures with 11. winning start to the 2020/2021 phy Holloway and Younes Ku- KNOW WHAT In yesterday’s other game, Sa- Zain Bahrain Basketball League. wayed both scored 18 points maheej defated Bahrain Club Sitra held a slim lead after the to lead the victors. Holloway 75-72 to register their second first two quarters, going ahead also took down 19 rebounds. Muharraq had a dom- successive triumph to start the 48-46 at the interval. But Muhar- Team captain Bader Abdulla inant third quarter in new season. raq had a dominant third quarter Malabes and Mohammed Ju- League action continues to- in which they outscored their ma’a chipped in with 14 points which they outscored night with another two games on rivals by 15, 23-8, to take control apiece. their rivals by 15, 23-8, schedule. At 5.30pm, defending of the game, and then did well For Sitra, Lebanese import Ka- to take control of the champions Al Ahli take on Nu- in the final period to hold on to reem Ezzeddine was the game’s game waidrat, followed at 7.45pm by Al Muharraq’s Sayed Mohammed Hameed looks to score against tough Sitra defence their advantage.