Loïc Minaudier takes his tenth start in the rally-raid while it is a first for Guilhem Alves and Arnaud Vincent.
Today, four licensees from the South Aveyron Automobile Sports Association (Asa) are taking the start of the prologue of the Dakar 2025 which takes place in Saudi Arabia until Friday January 17. “This is a historic moment for our club,” declares Yannick Jammes, president of Asa. Saint-Affricain Guilhem Alves, 36, is the co-pilot of Antoine Meo, 40, who lives in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. This is his first experience as a co-pilot. The crew will be aboard an Apache automotive which competes in the new T3U hybrid category. “This four-wheel drive prototype has a thermal engine that drives the rear wheels and an electric generator that recharges the batteries for the front engine.explains Antoine Meo who has already participated twice in the Dakar on a motorcycle (7th in 2016 and 4th in 2018) and twice in a car. The rider was also a five-time enduro world champion: “The Dakar by car has been a dream since I was little. I took part in it two years ago with a small SSV. It was a good experience and we did a lot of mechanics. This year, I have the chance to last moment to be able to leave. The co-pilot couldn't accompany me, Loïc Minaudier, who has organizational skills, introduced me to Guilhem Alves.”
“I've wanted to try for a long time
Guilhem Alves debuted in off-road motorcycle rallying in 2021 during rallies in Greece and Spain: “I've wanted to try as a co-driver for a long time. Loïc put me in touch with Antoine and we did some testing together. It will be a world to discover.” The crew's objective is “to start a little slowly at the start and to pick up the pace to be closest to the podium or on the podium in T3, a category which has a high level. We will be the only ones in T3U”.
Arnaud Vincent, 50 years old, born in Saint-Affrique, owns a heavy goods vehicle garage in La Cavalerie. He participated in karting races for ten years, in hill climbs but also in truck races on the track for five years: “I am participating in the Dakar Classic with an old vehicle as co-driver and driver aboard a Mercedes truck, in the SSP team which has twelve trucks including two for Loïc Minaudier's team. There will be three of us in the cabin with the navigator mechanic. We race and transport parts for the competitors. We don't play for the win. I've always dreamed of participating in the Dakar and this year I have the opportunity.
A tenth start for Minaudier
For Saint-Affricain Loïc Minaudier, 37, this is his tenth consecutive participation in the famous rally-raid. He completed five as a motorcycle driver and four in cars as a co-driver. Like last year, he teams up with Mathieu Serradori. In 2024, aboard their buggy, the duo finished 10th overall in the car category and finished first in the two-wheel drive category. “With the whole team, we spent six months preparing for this next Dakar, declares Loïc Minaudier. We have a new four-wheel drive car from the South African manufacturer Century and we are in the T1 + category. With this dream vehicle, we will give the best of ourselves against our competitors who are armed to the teeth.”
