Lowvelder conquers world’s toughest race
Local Danie Stassen fulfilled his lifelong dream to compete in the world's most difficult race, the Dakar Rally 2022, in Saudi Arabia with his teammate, Shameer Variawa, from January 1 to 14.
The team finished the intense and unforgiving 4 200-kilometre race in 42:28.36 (03:55.33 behind the winning team), which earned them 15th place.
Stassen still finds it hard to believe that less than a week ago he was in Saudi Arabia, challenging World Rally Championship (WRC) drivers whom he had considered as idols, at the biggest race of his life.
He was the navigator for Variawa, who competed for the second time in the Dakar Rally. The two represented South Africa and were part of four teams that drove for Toyota Gazoo Racing, the two-time Dakar Rally champions, including this past one.
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“I am sitting in my office, still processing that I finished the most dangerous race in my 20 years of being a co-driver. It was a childhood dream that became my true reality, right in front of my eyes, when that plane took off for Saudi Arabia,” Stassen said.
According to him, the first four days were a learning platform, as one could not predict what could happen or how the route was laid out in the dirt and dust. Their only tactic for the rest of the race was pure concentration on instincts and adapting to what was in front of them.
ALSO READ: Toyota Gazoo make their presence felt at Dakar
“You watch the race on your TV and see drivers get furious, cry or jump out of pure joy, but you never really experience the sacrifices they go through until you are chasing time on that route yourself. It was the most gruelling thing I have experienced,” he said.
Stassen was recognised as a worthy navigator when he started to compete in the South African Cross-Country Series in 2009, and since then won five times. He navigated for Variawa for six races before it was announced to him in May that his Dakar dream was about to become reality.
Stassen is the co-owner of Subaru Nelspruit, along with his brother, Joos Stassen. He is a loving husband and father, and made his family and friends proud by achieving the impossible.
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