Laia Sanz: “It’s good to pave the way for women in Dakar”

After a productive stage where he made history with motorcycles 9th place in the general classification in 2015 The driver of Corbera (1985), who reached the finish line in all races, proved himself on four wheels and will set off on January 5 with the Astara Team buggy in the two-wheel drive T1 category.

What can you tell us about this project?

We are doing it again with Astara, with Maurizio Gerini as a co-pilot and with our sponsors, but this time we are going with better opportunities. What was complicated for us in the last edition was goal after goal, which left us with a very bittersweet feeling. The 4×2 wheel drive vehicle is the latest version and we were pleased with the tests we conducted in Morocco. The long-term challenge is to be able to drive a car in the top category, T1+, but when that opportunity comes we have to take small steps to move forward and I think we’ve done that this year.

Have you taken more pains to reach an agreement this year?

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find the budget and sponsors to run the Dakar. It’s not easy, the world is changing so fast, social networks affect it so much… but I can’t complain. Compared to last year, I was able to connect earlier and focus on the preparations more calmly. I want to give back the trust of those who support me with a really good Dakar.

After eleven Dakar races on a motorcycle, do you think you are settled in the automobile category?

It’s hard to advance if you’re not on an official team. You go to Dakar without racing and you’re fighting people who have had four or five raids in the season. But we will still try to benefit from our experience and do it well. I know it will be hard to get T1+ but I believe in myself. Becoming an official Honda or KTM motorcycle rider was also difficult and I did it. I’m improving a lot and I think I have a lot of room to continue growing.

Does being a woman help you find sponsors?

This is a double-edged sword. There are positives and let’s not kid ourselves, the many times I rode a motorcycle it was an advantage because after all, a woman in the Dakar is something that goes a little bit outside the norm and makes more of an impact. But I had to show that I was competitive, not just because I was a woman. My results are what earn me respect. There are more of us in cars, but it’s harder for brands to trust a woman. It is harder to stand out if you have less resources and it is a type of whiting that bites its tail.

What goal was set taking into account the circumstances?

Finishing, of course, but I don’t want to finish like last year. We had good stages between 8th and 11th, but in the end we fell behind for one reason or another. One day, we lost seven hours due to a malfunction at the first opportunity, so we fell short. We managed to show that we were fast in the moments when we could run without any problems. This year, more than the result, we want to stand out in some stages and finish the race satisfactorily.

What do you think about the route of the 46th edition?

The final Dakar has regained some stamina after several years of low demand. And I think we’re going to go one step higher this time, from what the organization has told us, and it could be the toughest in Arabia. There is a difficult 48-hour marathon stage and there will be more kilometers in the Empty Quarter, where we had the most problems, because the weak point of our car is the sand dunes as it is at the back. -wheel drive. There will be days of survival. There are no easy stages with the car, it’s even more complex than the motorbike, so I expect to suffer more, but if we can keep our pace and race where possible we’ll do well.

Do you miss motorcycles?

Not at all. When I see the people accompanying me in the camp, I miss the atmosphere, the family… and I would love to do the sandy stages, but when the rocky stages come, both me and Maurizio, who also races on an off-road vehicle. motorcycle, we look at each other and say: This is already a desire!

How do you see women’s sport right now?

I think there is improvement in general. The boom in football is positive for everyone because it allows us to see that girls can be competitive in every sport, but it is also a bit unfair because it gives the impression that women’s sports have only been around for two years. Some of us have been around a long time, fighting.

What do you think about the scandal? Rubiales case?

Even thinking about it makes me lazy. There was a lot of politics involved, which was a shame because in the end the least talked about was the title won and how well the team did in the World Cup.

What would you say to girls who want to reach the motorsport elite by following your example?

Let them play tennis! … I’m kidding, of course. I tell them that if you love something, try it and follow your dreams. I would never dream of coming here. Just look at the women in Dakar right now. And not just in competition. There are also engineers, mechanics, and women in roles that were previously generally held by men… We are progressing.

Do you feel like a pioneer?

I think I made things easier for those who came after me and paved the way. When I started in the Dakar I was the odd one out, and now that women’s role in the race has become quite normalised, it’s nice to think that I’m contributing too.