Valentin Sarreaud avec son pilote Christian Lavieille – Matteo Gebbia/Edophoto
The co-driver can claim victory in two-wheel drive, a category in which he has already obtained two podiums.
Valentin Sarreaud is starting to become a regular at the bivouac. Having arrived on the Dakar in 2019, he has become a loyal participant, having only missed the 2020 one since his arrival. Not only has the Vézénobrais accumulated finisher medals, but he also stands out for his results. The duo he forms with Christian Lavieille finished 11th (2023) and 12th (2024) in the car race.
The two men are setting off again for a tour of the 2025 edition, which begins this Friday, January 3 in Bisha. They will still be in an Optimus from the MD Rallye Sport team. A stability that acts as a strength when it comes to tackling the 8,000 or so kilometers of the race.
“Hanging on to the frontrunners”
Crossed during technical checks, a few hours before the start, Valentin was “impatient to attack a Dakar that is announced as difficult”. It will take 14 days of competition to be entitled to the honors in Shubaytah, on January 17. A place where he hopes to repeat his podium in the two-wheel drive category.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“We've been finishing in second place in this ranking for two years now. We're going to try to do as well. It would be great to go for the victory, for the team and for everyone,” the Gard firefighter postulates. “As for the general classification, there are more and more cars and big manufacturers. Aiming for the Top 10 seems very complicated, but we will give everything to hang on to the leaders as much as possible.”
His pilot Christian Lavieille describes their crew as“the Tom Thumbs of the category. There are only very good cars left, capable of climbing any dune. We can consider that there are about forty cars capable of entering the Top-10. So to achieve this, it is quite an achievement”.
The Varois nevertheless sets himself the objective of “winning in the two-wheel drive category. There is an interesting title to go for, it is stimulating to fight for something”.
Co-driving becomes essential again
This year, almost half of the course will include separate tracks between the cars and the motorcycles. A way to improve safety, because it will limit overtaking between vehicles and chances of collision. But also a way to put the role of the co-driver back at the center of the game. Since the motorcycles leave before the cars, they leave useful traces for the 4-wheelers. But in separate configurations, there is no way to follow the traces.
“I like it, rejoices Valentin. “Because from a personal point of view, if I do rally-raid, it is to have a real added value in the car. In any case more than when I did classic rallies. Here, the co-driver can make you lose or win the race. It adds spice. Also a bit of pressure, stress, but that's part of the game of these big events.”