Monte Carlo Rally: Daniel Guex will make his dream come true

How can the craziest ideas catch up with you? Daniel Guex (63 years old) remembers very well that day in October 2023 when the desire to participate in the Monte-Carlo Rally grew within him until it became obvious.

He had just completed the historic Tour de Corsica at the wheel of an old Porsche and had not denied his pleasure of rediscovering buried sensations, this exhilaration of the landscapes which pass by, the passion for speed and the adrenaline which arises. ‘get out of it.

The Everest of rallies

“I found it so beautiful, we finished well, without being afraid,” he remembers. So I thought it would be great to do this again at Monte for real. At first, however, it wasn’t even a dream. Because I thought it wasn’t feasible. After thirty-five years of stopping, I couldn’t see myself resorting for good…”

Until the end of the 1980s, the Vaudois had demonstrated his proven knowledge of driving in all disciplines, both on the circuit (two years of Formula Ford) and in hill climb races, gleaning a few titles here and there, including that of Swiss slalom champion.

More than three decades later, here he is, this time preparing to take the start, on January 23, of the legendary Monaco event, unanimously considered the Everest of rallying.

“This is due as much to its history as to the often dire weather conditions, particularly in the night stages. You have to prepare for everything in terms of the coating. There can be dry, gravel and mud as well as snow, ice, frost, fog, etc. The grip is never the same.”

Budget of 80,000 francs

The Monte is at the same time an atmosphere of a gigantic fair with a backdrop of fireworks, more than 300,000 aficionados gathered along the 340 km of timed specials. In his first years of professional life, the Vaudois had often participated… as a spectator.

“With friends, we left work at 5:30 p.m. in Lausanne to go down to Gap to follow the night tests before going back up straight away to be at work at 8 a.m.! Even when I was younger, Monte obsessed me.” It is now as an actor that he will experience the madness of Monte-Carlo from the inside, followed by 250 million viewers. “The goal is to have fun, to enjoy the moment without getting drunk.”

Before shaking Prince Albert’s hand as tradition dictates during the presentation of the crews, Daniel Guex, the first Vaudois to line up since Jonathan Scheidegger’s participation in 2013, had to overcome a host of obstacles, such as obtaining first his international license which was granted to him after several qualifying rallies (Chablais, Valais). “I am well aware that being among the 70 hand-picked crews already represents a rare privilege.”

A yellow coin as a lucky charm

Associated with French navigator Christopher Guieu, the Bremblens driver and mechanic will take the start at the wheel of a Rally 2, a Hyundai i20 N, the brand he represents, prepared for the occasion by the Belgian BMA team and delivering more than 300 horsepower at four-wheel drive.

The cost of this upcoming week of thrills reaches 80,000 francs, a considerable budget, partly covered by around ten sponsors. Daniel Guex can also count on the support of his friends, united in a fan club of 180 members. The official departure will be preceded by two days of reconnaissance.

“The first pass allows you to take notes, which can be refined or sometimes corrected when you go over a second time.” During the race, the driver will also take into account the valuable advice of the opener he may have hired.

On the tricky roads of the Hautes-Alpes, the man knows that he will inevitably take risks but these will be measured, calculated in order to reach the finish, the avowed objective, guided by his leitmotif – “to drive fast but safety if possible.

With maximum concentration throughout the course of this 93^e Monte-Carlo, inaugural round of the World Rally Championship (WRC). Given the danger involved, does he feel any apprehension when getting into his bucket seat?

“The fear is there, it’s normal. I have to watch out for the traps. I’m not going there to act stupid. At my age, I have to look a little further. I depend more on myself than on the car. I know she will be at the top…” He has been preparing like an elite athlete for several weeks.

Daniel Guex will not compete against professional drivers but first and foremost against himself. He will always be able to count on the protection of the lucky charm given to him by his wife, a yellow 5 cent coin received from his mother, a coin which she sewed into his suit. If he finishes the event at over 60 aboard the Hyundai N^o 45, he will have lost more than 5 kg. The price of sweat at the same time as that of the exploit.

An LS faithful

In rallying, the bond between the driver and his co-driver is essential, with a trust that must be reciprocal. In the Franco-Swiss pair that he formed with Guieu, the Vaudois worked on this blind understanding on the snowy roads of Dévoluy, before Christmas.

This primarily concerns note-taking, an essential exercise in order to be able to keep up with each other during the race. “The ear is as important as the sight. Ideally, we should be able to drive while listening only to what we hear in the headset. […] It was also an opportunity to feel the limits of the car and mine.”

In sporting circles, Daniel Guex is also known for being a loyal sponsor of LS since 2014. A commitment that he has just renewed for three years. “The club is changing dimension,” he believes. Experiencing the matches at La Tuilière is a magnificent experience.”

Our interlocutor praises the work accomplished by Ludo Magnin. “I like the character. He’s a true Vaudois who always dreamed of coaching the big club in the canton.” And in terms of results, what should we expect? “If we manage to keep the same team, it could be the year of the LS…” Here too, there is no question of letting off the accelerator. NJR

Nicolas Jacquier was a journalist at the Sport-Center agency from 2018 until 2023, when he retired. He mainly covered football, which he followed since his training at the Geneva daily Le Courrier. After six years at the newspaper La Suisse, he joined the sports section of Le Matin in 1996.More info

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