Red Bull Off-Road Team USA driver quotes after Dakar Rally stage 10 15.01.2020: Mitch Guthrie Jr.: “I started 30 seconds behind my team-mate Blade (Hildebrand). I kind of followed Blade through the dunes and we ended up in a group. It was tough to get

Mitch Guthrie Jr.: “I started 30 seconds behind my team-mate Blade (Hildebrand). I kind of followed Blade through the dunes and we ended up in a group. It was tough to get away from anyone. I’ve ended up with the stage win which is really awesome. Blade’s right behind me so we went 1-2 again. It’s another successful day. It’s marathon stage so tonight we’ll be prepping the cars for tomorrow.”




Blade Hildebrand: “It’s the first part of the marathon stage today so I backed down a little bit. Just like 10 or 15 percent. You’ve got to do what you can to look after the car on a stage like this. We had minimal issues with the car today. We’ll be able to get everything done that needs to get done tonight. Then tomorrow we’ll head out for the second part of the marathon stage.”



Cyril Despres: “Four days ago I bet one dollar to Blade and one dollar to Mitch that they will win at least four stages. They were laughing, but I told them that we have a lot of knowledge from the first week. The car has been modified to make it better for these stages in the second week. Engine, chassis, suspension, tyre pressure, etc… All of this has improved because of the knowledge we now have. That’s why I knew lots more stage wins were coming.”


“I was able to coach the guys in the days leading up to this marathon stage. I gave them some advice on what food, what clothes to bring. Where they will sleep and what they will eat. How to plan the mechanical work. I told them what I know and they were really paying attention. From day one they have been listening, but yesterday they were even more focused.”



Jean Marc Fortin, Overdrive CEO: “The whole team had to work such long hours at the beginning of this Dakar, not much sleep. It was a tough start to our first Dakar. I’m so proud of the team that we got through those difficult days. Now we’ve proven that we have the speed and secondly we have some young talents that are now shining in the eyes of experienced cross-country people.”



“I know a lot of the drivers in other teams at the Dakar. These guys have very high standards and it’s these drivers who have been coming up to me to say how impressed they are with Blade and Mitch.”



Jean Marc Schmit, OT3 Technical Director: “The results we’re enjoying now are down to the hard work we’ve been putting in since arriving here. Now we’re coming close to the end, but the rally is not finished yet. We want to keep improving until the end of the last stage. This is the most difficult rally in the world so there is nowhere better to test what can be improved on our car.”



“We’re using the kilometres to discover any problems the car has. OK, we’ve discovered quite a few things that can be improved. It helps us to develop the package for the future. What we can be pleased with is the performance that has given us these stage wins.”
 



Christine Fial