Polaris

‘I'm quite satisfied because I'm still leading the championship, but I was expecting more. I didn't have the power of my engine in stages 1 and 2. In South Africa I think it will be a technical race, like I'm used to in Portugal, which will be the next round, which is positive for the future.’

B.O.

• Alexandre’s teammate is even younger and will have just turned 20 for his first Dakar.
• He only started racing 2 years ago with his dad before the chance came up to co-drive for Alexandre.
• He does however have more experience on long-format rallies, having raced on the Africa Eco Race last year, which he won.
• Bernardo is currently studying economics at university and it isn’t easy to combine studies with his burgeoning racing career. His exams will actually be taking place while he is on the Dakar.
• Depending on how the Dakar goes, the W2RC isn’t out of the question for the young duo. So, studies will have to take a back seat—except there isn’t one in a T4!