Mercedes M-Class wins Dakar Telefonica 2003
three times world cup champion Jpe Strugo
Jean-Pierre Strugo (Mercedes) - France - n°220:
Winner of the T1 Production Class and 16th overall.
"The objective was achieved! We are glad to finish in this place in the overall standings considering the competition. It is a great relief. I cannot say that it is a surprise since it was our initial objective. We were at the head all the time. Initially with 3 minutes in advance, then 10, then 20, 1 hour, 2 hours, 2 1/2 hours. In the end, the lead melted: 2 hours, 1 1/2 hour and, 1 hour. I will return next year in T1 because it is the category in which I feel at home. That corresponds to my philosophy and my state of mind, and of course with the TEAM of my friend Jojo (Groine). One does not change a winning team!"
Jean-Pierre Strugo (ML 430) - France - n°220:
"This is my 18th Dakar. I started in 1985 and from then on have done all of them except one. It's always that same passion that pushes me to do the rally even though it's less and less an adventure and more and more a competition. It remains a considerable bit of adventure nonetheless.
I didn't participate at the great debut and first edition back in 1979 and only started with the seventh edition. At the time it was a bunch of crazy friends following Thierry Sabine who probably didn't know himself where he was going, I think. It was total improvisation. Today I'm more interested in the competitive side. If I'm still here after so many years, it's because I want to achieve something in the standings.
I'm part of the T1 production category. Cars that look like the ones on the market. We only change a few mandatory safety items: rollcage, belt harness, seats as well as some reinforcements, but very limited.
We're also allowed to use much larger dampers, or to have double suspensions. The engine is strictly original, the axles and the transfer are the original and even more it's strictly forbidden to change them during the race. Even if you break your transmission and change it, even though it's a production transmission, you then have to change categories and go to Superproduction. You therefore have to be very careful during the race. The important parts can not be exchanged.
For me driving a production vehicle is part of a philosophy. People ask me often: "Why, with your good results, don't you pass on production cars?" It's simply because in a series car, you have a different way of driving the Dakar. I've already finished a Dakar or two in 7th spot in a Superproduction car. But I muchly prefer T1. I'm a lot prouder of my 10th or 12th places in T1 than my Superproduction results. For us it's pretty easy to find sponsors because our team has better chances to finish in the top positions of the T1 category. TV channels come to see us and give us cameras to put in the car whereas in SuperProduction (T2) it's impossible to be in the leading positions. After all, people speek more of a first place in T1 than an 8th or 9th in T2. The day I won't have the will or passion, I'll stop. That's the advantage of being a privateer. Like in the T2 category, we fight among us in our category. We are a race in the race.
Added to that, the Dakar is also a way to meet up together around dinner on the bivouac. We're all friends which has nothing to do with other motorsports. I don't have a special dream. I would not like to drive in T2, the T1 production class satisfies me completely. Jojo Groine is the team leader, but it remains a private team. We could need some help with the vehicles from Mercedes. Jojo has continued the vehicle development very well, but the development is not yet finished. Only a manufacturer can complete it. If Mercedes finally decides to support us, it would be fantastic, otherwise we might perhaps look for other marques. My dream could be to be the official driver of a team, but doing the T1 race. For your information the Mercedes car is the only one with air conditioning. If one doesn't have it, one doesn't think of it. But if one has a breakdown, it's hell (laughs). Besides we have automatic windows, comfort, heating and especially not the noise like in T2. In effect, one arrives in the evening less tired and much fresher. I don't envy those folks in T2. I say this because we are among ourselves here, but this shouldn't be repeated elsewhere because otherwise they'll all want to come to T1 (laughs)."
216 2 2.1 VILLALBA JOSE A GARCIA JOSE MIGUEL MERCEDES ML 430 ESP TELEFONICA MOVISTAR 220 1 1.1 STRUGO JEAN-PIERRE LARROQUE PASCAL MERCEDES ML 430 FRA GROINE DEVELOPPEMENT 226 1 1.1 METGE RENE METGE ELODIE MERCEDES ML 430 FRA GROINE DEVELOPPEMENT 235 2 LOOMANS JACKIE SMETS JOEL MERCEDES G 400 CDI (ML 320 in first reports) BEL 242 2 2.1 GIL FERNANDO SANTIVERI RAFAEL MERCEDES ML 430 ESP TELEFONICA MOVISTAR 251 1 1.1 MORIZE YVES ROYER DANIEL MERCEDES FRA GROINE DEVELOPPEMENT 256 1 1.1 GACHE PHILIPPE GAUTHIER JEAN MARIE MERCEDES ML 430 FRA GROINE DEVELOPPEMENT
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Man, Machine, M |