New Delhi: Experience of past three years has made him worldly wise about the Dakar Rally, enabling him to target a top-20 finish at the off-road race’s 2018 edition, believes biker C.S Santosh.
Santosh will be part of a three-member Hero Motorsports team, including Joaquim Rodrigues and Oroil Mena, who was inducted in the team in September and will make his debut at the Dakar.
The 40th edition of the race, the 10th to be held in South America, will cross three countries, beginning with Peru on January 6, 2018, and travel through Bolivia before concluding in Argentina on January 20.
Peru will be the host after a gap of four years with 500 competitors from 60 countries participating in the event, hoping to tame a gruelling stretch of almost 9,000 kms.
“I struggled a lot last time. I wasn’t in good physical shape. They say Dakar is tough every year and that is true. But I have matured and experience teaches you things,” Santosh said.
The Bengaluru-born said deciphering the roadbook while charting the race route will be most important aspects as racers are barred from peeking into the routes ahead of the race.
