Near Toulouse. This 73-year-old competitor is one of the elders of the 2025 Dakar Rally

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There is no age to make your dream come true. William Fossat, 73, former maxillofacial surgeon from Blagnac, at the gates of Toulousewill participate in the next Dakar Rally which will take place from January 3 to 17, 2025.

The retiree intends to realize his dream, which he has had in mind for more than 40 years. He will compete in the “Classic” category and will wear the number 780.

Second dean of the competition

For his very first Dakar, William Fossat will leave with the status of dean. At 73 years old, he is actually the second oldest participant of this editionbehind Jean-Pierre Strugo and his 78 springs. Since his early youth, William dreamed of one day grabbing a steering wheel and setting out to conquer the desert.

“When I was in medical school in Toulouse, I saw the Dakar go by and I swore to myself at that time that one day I would participate. In 1981, I went to Ethiopia with Doctors Without Borders. It made me want to travel, meet people and get involved,” says the retiree.

The Dakar Classic

The Blagnacais will participate in the 5^e edition of « Dakar Classic ». In this unique category, inaugurated in 2021, only vehicles registered up to and including the year 2005 can compete.

This is a race of regularity where speed is not synonymous with victory. This year, 94 crews are expected in the Saudi desert to try to complete the route of 7 246 km. William Fossat will parade through the dunes aboard his Toyota HZJ73.

“I love classic vehicles, there is an emotional weight to them. I would rather buy a vehicle that smelled like sand from the 90s than build a car. We wanted to keep the spirit of the period, we did not try to modernize,” explains William Fossat.

The start of the first stage of the Dakar Classic will be given on January 3, 2025 in Bishain Saudi Arabia.

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