The four are at the start of the Dakar for this 2025 edition. Midi libre – J.-M. C.
Loïc Minaudier is taking his tenth start on the rally-raid while it is a first for Guilhem Alves and Arnaud Vincent.
Today, four licensees of the Association sportive automobile (Asa) du Sud-Aveyron are taking the start of the prologue of the Dakar 2025 which takes place in Saudi Arabia until Friday, January 17. “This is a historic moment for our club”,says Yannick Jammes, president of the Asa. Guilhem Alves from Saint-Affricain, 36, is the co-driver of Antoine Meo, 40, who lives in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. This is his first experience as a co-driver. The crew will be on board an Apache automotive that competes in the new T3U hybrid category. “This prototype with four-wheel drive has a thermal engine that drives the rear wheels and an electric generator that recharges the batteries for the front engine”, explains Antoine Meo who has already participated twice in the Dakar on a motorbike (7th in 2016 and 4th in 2018) and twice in a car. The driver has also been five times world enduro champion: “The Dakar by car has been a dream of mine since I was little. I took part two years ago with a small SSV. It was a good experience and we did a lot of mechanics. This year, I was lucky enough to be able to leave at the last minute. The co-driver couldn't come with me. Loïc Minaudier, who has organizational skills, introduced me to Guilhem Alves.”
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Guilhem Alves started in off-road motorcycle rallying in 2021 during rallies in Greece and Spain: “I've wanted to try it for a long time as a co-driver. Loïc put me in touch with Antoine and we did some tests together. It will be a world to discover.” The crew's goal is “to start a little slowly at the beginning and to pick up the pace to be the closest to the podium or on the podium in T3, a category that has a high level. We will be the only ones in T3U”.
Arnaud Vincent, 50 years old, born in Saint-Affrique, owns a heavy goods garage in La Cavalerie. He took part in karting races for ten years, in hill climbs and also in track truck races for five years: “I am taking part in the Dakar Classic with a vintage vehicle as co-driver and driver on board a Mercedes truck, in the SSP team which has twelve trucks including two for Loïc Minaudier's team. There will be three of us in the cabin with the navigator mechanic. We race and transport parts for the competitors. We are not playing to win. I have always dreamed of taking part in the Dakar and this year I have the opportunity.”
A tenth start for Minaudier
For Loïc Minaudier from Saint-Affricain, 37, this is his tenth consecutive participation in the famous rally-raid. He has completed five as a motorcycle driver and four in a car as a co-driver. Like last year, he is teaming up with Mathieu Serradori. In 2024, aboard his buggy, the duo finished 10th overall in the car category and finished first in the two-wheel drive category. “With the whole team, we spent six months preparing for this next Dakar, declares Loïc Minaudier. We have a new four-wheel drive car from the South African manufacturer Century and we are in the T1 + category. With this dream vehicle, we will give the best of ourselves against our competitors who are armed to the teeth.”