MANAMA — Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) has completed all final preparations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and is ready to start its first ever Dakar Rally. BRX drivers Sebastien Loeb, co-driver Daniel Elena and Nani Roma with co-driver Alex Winocq took to the podium in the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, in Jeddah, after completing the Prologue stage of the Dakar Rally 2021. Following the Prologue, Sebastien Loeb will start stage one in tenth position, and Nani Roma in 15th. Both BRX drivers set off from Jeddah on Sunday, racing towards Bisha, on a route that takes competitors over almost 300 km of rough mountain tracks. By taking to the podium with the Bahrain Raid Xtreme Hunter T1 car, Loeb and Roma signaled the start of their Dakar Rally 2021 adventure. The driver line up for Bahrain Raid Xtreme brings a wealth of experience to the team, with nine-time World Rally Championship winner Loeb and two-time Dakar Rally winner Roma. The drivers form part of a team that has the expertise of Prodrive behind it; with David Richards’ motorsport business pouring all of its title winning experience into the Hunter vehicles, in a bid to compete in motorsport’s biggest test of endurance. Commenting after the Dakar Rally 2021 prologue, BRX driver Loeb said: “The car felt good, with no problems, so the strategy for stage one will be to push harder. “I didn’t want to take too many risks today; 10th is not the position we were expecting, so hopefully we will not have too much dust on the road from the other cars, but this is only the beginning. “It is great to be back and ready to compete in the Dakar; I missed it last year, so it’s exciting to have another chance to take on the Dakar again. “The whole BRX team has been working hard to prepare for whatever the Dakar throws at us, and we are ready, but fully appreciate how big the challenge will be.” Spanish driver Roma will line up alongside Loeb, in his BRX Hunter and added: “I have made some incredible memories competing in the Dakar Rally; it is a special event and a true test. “To be part of a new team entering its first Dakar, is a rare opportunity; I can’t wait to play my part in the team with the support of a very talented group of engineers.” Richards, Bahrain Raid Xtreme team director, has been part of a some of motorsport’s most successful endeavors, but understands the scale of the challenge the team is about to undertake. “The Dakar is one of the biggest tests of endurance for driver and car alike. For that reason, the Dakar stands alone as one of the toughest motorsport events on the planet, and one of the biggest challenges Prodrive has ever undertaken. “The entire team has worked tirelessly to prepare for this year’s event and yet we all know that there will inevitably be issues that we never anticipated, that is what makes the Dakar so difficult. “In Nani and Sebastien we have two incredible drivers, supported by a great team of engineers who share a clear objective to compete from the off. We are all very excited about starting our first Dakar adventure.” — SG