Paris-Dakar Rally: Romanian first at car category

Three years after the first Romanian, Romeo Dunca, participated in the 2005 Paris-Dakar rally, at the motorcycle category, Romania records a new first: the first Romanian team (Gabi Nicolae-driver, Liviu Stan, co-driver) at the start of the 2008 edition of the car category, in a Mitsubishi L200 Taifun.

Gabi Nicolae, 33, national off-road champion, has worked for three years on the Team Dakar Romania project, which will materialize in the first Romanian presence in the famous Paris-Dakar Rally.

In a press conference occasioned by the team’s departure for the 5 January 2008 start in Portugal, the racing car and the technical assistance one, also a Mitsubishi L200, were presented. The drivers will be accompanied by mechanics Claudiu Muresan and Sorin Oncioiu, and journalist Mihai Deobald.

Dorin Marian, the head of Prime Minister’s Chancellery, offered Gabi Nicolae a national flag to wave when he crosses the finishing line at. ”On behalf of Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu I wish you success, to leave a good impression and return home safely”.

Gabi Nicolae, who is also the manager of Team Dakar Romania, explained this project started three years ago. ‘Our target is to make the first professional rally-raid team in Romania. We want to go not only to this edition of the Dakar rally, and we want to participate in the long term in every international rally-raid competition”.

The two cars will be sent to Lisbon on 22 December, with the drivers and mechanics to leave for the destination on 27 December. The start will take place on 5 January. Team Dakar Romania received in July 2007 the go-ahead for the participation in the 2008 edition of the said rally. The two drivers participated in the training sessions at Paris, initiated by ASO, the firm that organizes the Paris-Dakar Rally.