First stage concluded with satisfaction at Dakar Classic

Brescia, January 2nd 2022 – The Dakar Classic 2022 got underway today, along a 310
kilometre loop around the Ha’il bivouac in Saudi Arabia. The Angelo Caffi Racing Team is
taking part in the event for the second year with Ligurian driver Luciano Carcheri, in his
tenth Dakar, this time co-drived by Italian Cross-Country Rally champion Giulia Maroni
on a Nissan Terrano 1 in Group H3.

After switching to Group H3 the challenge today was particularly demanding for Carcheri,
testimonial of Costa Ligure, who had to drive in countless different conditions along the
more than 300 kilometres stage with two competitive sectors of 141 kilometres in total.
Despite this, the crew maintained excellent averages, confirming their position at the top
of the overall classification.

“The first section of the stage was very technical, Giulia was impeccable with the
navigation and we closed the first competitive sector with a good reference. The second
section, between oueds and sandier tracks was very fast. We ran flat out for almost all of
the time and perhaps we suffered something compared to the official cars in terms of top
speed which, in the end, also weighed on the precision measurement of the second
stage”.

“The car was perfect. We hit a few bumps in the rocky sections, but we didn’t have any
problems. In the oueds with the softer, wetter terrain, the decision to use rather high
tyre pressures to avoid punctures meant that I had to keep the car in traction at all
times to avoid getting buried, but that’s part of the game. I would say a very good
opening” Carcheri said.

Stage 2 changes. Due to flooding at the Al Artawiya bivouac, which was due to host the
caravan at the end of tomorrow’s day, the route will be diverted to the Al Quaysumah
bivouac. The Marathon stage, which was supposed to include the fractions of 3 and 4
January, will now become two single stages.