[Racer Duck]

Tiago Monteiro at the 2008 Lisbon-Dakar Rally solo!
A personal challenge coupled with a humanitarian mission

Tiago Monteiro has decided to cross the threshold of a new experience in auto racing and add a new string to his bow in participating in the king of rally-raids, the 2008 Lisbon-Dakar.

The SEAT Sport driver in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will hit the starting line in Lisbon on January 5th, and hopes to make the Senegalese beaches on the 20th after having fulfilled several objectives, competitive, personal, and humanitarian.

Tiago has often thought of adding the mythic rally to his callender but until this year it was incompatible with his on-track profession. In 2008 the Dakar will celebrate its 30th anniversary with the Lisbon-native driver. The project began taking form when its organizers expressed interest in Tiago's participation; it solidified thanks to the confluence ot three major elements (project, team, sponsors) and thanks to the fact that Tiago's competitive schedule will let him take part in the adventure.

Tiago has always cultivated a taste for variety in auto racing and taking up the challenge of the Lisbon-Dakar will enable him to satisfy his adventurous and competitive spirit. He will find himself alone in the desert for two weeks, and will have to tap into his physical and moral reserves and confront a sometimes hostile climate and geography.

Tiago will drive a Buggy Desert, initially developed by Jean-Louis Schlesser and prepared by Philippe Gache and his SMG. The radical concept of the buggy is the most popular with the public and the closest true image of the Dakar adventure: 900 km with no windshield or air conditioning in an environment that pushes the limits of man's physical and moral resistance. more....

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Tiago Monteiro at the 2008 Lisbon-Dakar Rally solo!
A personal challenge coupled with a humanitarian mission

Tiago Monteiro has decided to cross the threshold of a new experience in auto racing and add a new string to his bow in participating in the king of rally-raids, the 2008 Lisbon-Dakar.

The SEAT Sport driver in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will hit the starting line in Lisbon on January 5th, and hopes to make the Senegalese beaches on the 20th after having fulfilled several objectives, competitive, personal, and humanitarian.

Tiago has often thought of adding the mythic rally to his callender but until this year it was incompatible with his on-track profession. In 2008 the Dakar will celebrate its 30th anniversary with the Lisbon-native driver. The project began taking form when its organizers expressed interest in Tiago's participation; it solidified thanks to the confluence ot three major elements (project, team, sponsors) and thanks to the fact that Tiago's competitive schedule will let him take part in the adventure.

Tiago has always cultivated a taste for variety in auto racing and taking up the challenge of the Lisbon-Dakar will enable him to satisfy his adventurous and competitive spirit. He will find himself alone in the desert for two weeks, and will have to tap into his physical and moral reserves and confront a sometimes hostile climate and geography.

Tiago will drive a Buggy Desert, initially developed by Jean-Louis Schlesser and prepared by Philippe Gache and his SMG. The radical concept of the buggy is the most popular with the public and the closest true image of the Dakar adventure: 900 km with no windshield or air conditioning in an environment that pushes the limits of man's physical and moral resistance. more....

I want to see Robby Gordon and his Hummer come in first.

Now, a question... Why did they change it from Pairs to Dakar to the Lisbon to Dakar Ralley? (Yeah, I know. They moved it to Lisbon!) Why the move? My first guess would be congestion in Paris.