Sixth in the last Dakar with Mathieu Serradori, Saint-Affricain Loïc Minaudier looks back on this competition and this exceptional edition.
The Saint-Africa co-driver Loïc Minaudier and the Var driver Mathieu Serradori are 6th in the general car classification of the Dakar 2025 which took place from Friday January 3 to Friday January 17 in Saudi Arabia. First French crew in the ranking, Loïc Minaudier and Mathieu Serradori covered 7,828 km, including more than 5,000 km of specials, aboard their new four-wheel drive CR7 buggy from the South African manufacturer Century Racing. In January 2024, with a Century Racing CR6 two-wheel drive, he was tenth in the overall car standings. The Saint-Affricain looks back on his experience.
What assessment do you draw from the Dakar 2025?
We spent two weeks really playing the leading roles, something that the whole team had really worked on and prepared for over a year. We are proud to have achieved this magnificent sixth place in the fight with the factories and only around thirty minutes from the podium. It’s exceptional. We know that we don’t have the same resources as a factory team, but we are really the first unofficial team from a big committed manufacturer to achieve results like that.
Have you experienced any difficulties?
In terms of problems, like everyone else we had small problems, but frankly we didn’t have any major mechanical problems. One day, we had the power steering pump break, which cost us a little time. We had a stubborn hood and stopped twice to attach it. We had small problems but nothing very serious. Concretely, we have nothing to say about the mechanical aspect. The men in the shadows, as they say, were truly warriors. They did the work necessary to have a fine car. Which allowed us to really perform well on the track while respecting the mechanics of course, but really focusing on our work and our partner to move forward as quickly as possible in the desert.
What was your best memory?
The best memory is the stage where we achieved the podium, that is to say third place (on Monday January 13, the crew placed third in the 483 km special between Al Duwadimi and Riyadh, Editor’s note). We attacked from start to finish like the others, but we were really well rewarded with our first podium. It was a big celebration when we returned. With the whole team we were able to share a joy that I have never experienced at the Dakar. It was a joy to share and our entire team was proud of this accomplishment together. It was the most intense and emotionally powerful moment to experience.
-What is your program in the coming days?
There, we are in Riyadh today (Saturday January 18, Editor’s note). We have the plane back to France tonight. For my part, it will be a short visit to Aveyron because I am leaving at the end of the week for Morocco for a small five-day rally. The recovery period will be very short. Despite the intensity that the Dakar provides, both physically and mentally, playing in the big leagues leaves a lot of energy behind. It’s true that it’s a big challenge. We realize that all the work done all year for these 15 days makes sense. Everything is well constructed and measured to perform during these two weeks. And there, the break, despite being very short over four days, will do some good.
Will you participate in the 2026 Dakar?
We’re not there yet. We will continue to train and do the next races in three months with our Century. Then we’ll see what happens next. We will continue and we will be there.
Ten consecutive Dakars and ten finish lines crossed, is that exceptional?
This is the tenth time that I have completed this adventure. It is true that my ten Dakars have never been the same depending on the difficulties, following the injuries I had on the motorbike where I remember gritting my teeth for entire stages to reach the finish. But today, it’s something crazy that I realize, to have managed to achieve ten finisher’s medals out of ten participations. It’s something that of course makes me proud and still motivates me to move forward. I know that nothing is over and there will still be big adventures and big emotions. At each Dakar, the emotion is there, with perhaps more stress now despite everything being well worked out beforehand. I mean with a lot more at stake. The Dakars are not the same. But it’s been crazy this year because we’ve had indescribable support with a whole bunch of messages we’ve received from people. The TV highlighted us a lot because we were the best French crew, with our stage podium and our duo which people liked. It really warms my heart. Having stood up to the factory teams, that’s a big point that’s really important to remember.
