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For its 10th edition, the Africa Eco Race will welcome a record number of competitors. More than a hundred vehicles, nearly 200 riders, drivers and co-drivers, will start from Monaco on December 31st. The big favorites of the event will be at the “rendez-vous”: Vladimir Vasilyev, winner in Car category in 2017, Gerard De Rooy in the category Truck and Pal Anders Ullevalseter with his KTM bike. However, many other could come and tickle them.
Car: Battle announced between 4X4 and Buggies
Over the last two editions, the four-wheel drives have had the last word. Last year Vladimir Vasilyev won at the wheel of his Mini. But this year, with the highly successful Toyota Overdrive and the Optimus armada of the MD Rallye team, without forgetting the SRT Buggy of Mathieu Serradori and the BDS Buggy by Lionel Baud, the race promises to be very interesting again.
For the first time, the Africa Eco Race will have a T3 category with ten SSV registered to the race. These off-road vehicles, halfway between quads and buggies, will be very comfortable in the second week and may shake up the hierarchy.
Vladimir Vasilyev at the wheel of his Mini in 2017
Bikes: A Pack of contenders to the podium
In the Bikes category, the main animators of the rally will be present for this 10th edition. Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter, a two-time winner of the event, is looking forward to winning again after young Gev Sella from the South Africa stopped him from a third consecutive victory in 2017. Tsuk Sella, Gev's brother, will try to keep the trophy within the family. Among the other contenders, there will be Italy's Paolo Ceci and Franco Picco, Morocco's Harite Gabari, Russia's Dmitri Agoshkov and Slovakia's Martin Benko. They will be serious contenders for the podium. Julien Sanchez, French resident in Senegal, could also come and tickle the pack.
Truck: Gerard De Rooy, as a favorite
The event of this 2018 Africa Eco Race undoubtedly come from the Truck category with about fifteen participants at the start. Among them, Gerard De Rooy, whose father Jan had won the first edition, will have the favor of predictions at the wheel of his Iveco. But the faithfulls of the rally, including Tomas Tomecek, three-time winner, the Hungarian Miklos Kovacs or the Belgian Noël Essers, will be at the “rendez vous” and will start with the advantage of knowing the field. And, we must not forget the Portuguese Elisabete Jacinto who will thirst for revenge after her retirement last year.
Two French women in Malle Moto
They will be over 10 competitors to start the 2018 Africa Eco Race in the Malle Moto class. These great adventurers will start for 14 days of racing without assistance.
Among them, two French women, both came from the asphalt rather than the off-road, but will try to go from Monaco to Dakar: Lydia Truglio who will discover the Africa Eco Race and Julie Vanneken who has already seen the Lake Rose in 2017.
Julie Vanneken on the Africa Eco Race in 2017
