Rebecca Busi shares her thoughts on competing in the Dakar Rally in a few days time in T4 category. Having competed in Dakar 2023, T4 class, Rebecca has notched up an impressive amount of knowledge, experience, and insight on refining her preparations to race Dakar’s 12 Stages starting on January 5 at AlUla, Saudi Arabia.
Foremost, has been the Italian driver’s determination to push for quality performance behind the wheel, not only supported by Uruguayan co-driver Sergio Lafuente’s expertise in navigating Rally-Raid Championships, but also aided by her personal trainer and mental coach.
Such decisions on how best to perfect the art of preparations to race Dakar have been hard won. As Rebecca admits: ‘this will be my third Dakar – the last minute replacement of driver in Dakar Classic in 2022 was an unknown circumstance, followed by entering Dakar T4 category in 2023 was not ideal, as we had to retire so close to the final finish line’.
Switch up action plan, and Rebecca has excelled at strategizing when and where to train, what to race, all within tight time-frames post Dakar 2023. Most certainly, these characteristics of Rebecca speak loudly on how the now 27 year old will approach racing the 46th edition of Dakar in the Team’s Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo vehicle.
Rebecca: ‘Last year I thought I was prepared but I wasn’t – my passion and my stubbornness led me to almost the end of Dakar, but I was far from being prepared… however you never feel prepared enough for this challenging race!
This year I feel in a better position anyway, thanks to OnlyFans. I had the chance to race more than in 2023 – I only raced 2 Rallies: Fenix Rally and Rally Greece Off-Road. After Dakar 2023 I have raced Sonora Rally, Morocco, Italian Baja and Baja Aragon in Spain. These races have made a lot difference – I know myself better – my driving and racing skills – but also my weak points! This year I also had the opportunity to train in Copiapo, in Chile’.
If Rebecca’s mantra is: my next result will be better than the last, the upward curve of learning, putting experience into practice, along with teaming up with supportive personal bodes extremely well for what lies ahead in Dakar 2024.
Add in the varying terrain Rebecca has trained and raced on – from competing in Sonora Rally in Mexico, to Rally in Morocco, to Baja’s in Italy and Spain, to training on the desert sand dunes in Chile, and the goals of perfecting her race-craft within the variables of racing Rally-Raid Championship max out any previous years of racing.
Rebecca: ‘Whatever occurred last year, I could have done better. This year I did… of course luck can be included! Dakar is a very long race and I choose to not have expectations this year – well only one.. be a Dakar finisher, and I mean a real one not a Dakar experience finisher’.
With strength of mind to commit to challenges ahead, Rebecca can rely on her known characteristics which have carved her racing career to date. Behind the scenes preparations, emotional ups and downs, along with moments of doubt coupled by fierce determination have all made Rebecca into the driver she is today. Sure, there are no illusions that the unknown elements of racing Dakar can push any competitor to the brink, yet as Rebecca puts it:
‘Difficult moments will be there and I will think – who made me do this – but nothing can break or even scratch the desire to cross the finish line. I will just have to remember that I can do it… everybody can do anything if they believe they can’.
Header photo: Rebecca Busi Image: @mchphotocz Graphics: MXLink
Words: Sharon Cox.
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