Stage 5 5th 10th 19th Ab. Stage 5 13th navigator for Vlastimil Vildman 18th navigator for Vlastimil Vildman. I was still processing it for a while after Dakar. I didn't realise it at the end of the rally, because the pressure is so high that you just feel relieved. But in the following days it was completely different, and we really enjoyed it. And especially throughout the year. It will be nice to come back as the defending champion, but not as the main contender for a second victory. It's always hard to be the favourite.
I was always good coming as the underdog and fighting from there. Victory last year means we've needed to push even harder for Dakar , because it's not easy to win the title for the second time in a row.
I think it's even worse or harder to get than the first time. Everything we do is geared towards Dakar. We also have new tyres from Prometeon that we tested in Morocco. We wanted a more reliable truck, even though we had no issues at Dakar - that's also why we won it. But there's always room for improvement and I believe we've managed it.
Morocco was perfect; we were in first place from start to finish. To be honest, I didn't expect to have no teething problems with the new Evolution 4. One third is the crew and one third is the team. Coming into Dakar as the defending champions brings a mix of responsibilities and pressure. There's an expectation to perform at the same high level, and it serves as a constant reminder to stay humble, work harder and remain focused. My hopes for Dakar are for a safe, competitive and fair race for everyone involved.
Of course, we would love to defend our title, but more importantly, we aim to push our limits, demonstrate good sportsmanship and support each other throughout the race. The 48h Chrono is an interesting and challenging addition to the Dakar. It requires strategising and endurance from all participants. We loved it in and we're hoping it will remain as tough.
