SEAT World Touring Car regular and former
Crash.net columnist Tiago Monteiro will not just be pushing his own boundaries when he takes to the start ramp for next month's Lisbon-Dakar Rally, but will also be carrying out a humanitarian mission along the way.
The Portuguese ace, who switched to the WTCC when his F1 aspirations dried up in 2007, will be making his first start in the 'king of rally raids' when he leaves Lisbon on 5 January but, having finally managed to make it fit with his other commitments, hopes to make the Senegalese beaches 15 days later having fulfilled several objectives - competitive, personal, and humanitarian.
The project to run in the 30th anniversary rally began taking shape when event organisers expressed interest in Monteiro's participation, and firmed up with the announcement that a Desert Buggy, initially developed by Jean-Louis Schlesser and prepared by Philippe Gache's SMG concern will provide the motive power for the former Midland F1 pilot's debut.
The radical-looking machine is often the most popular with the public and closest to the true image of the Dakar adventure, which will see Monteiro cover 900km with no windshield or air conditioning in an environment that even he expects to push his physical and mental limits.
He will be spurred on by the knowledge that his progress across the Sahara will help to promote two humanitarian groups, in addition to a personal commitment to helping finance a project with each.
Actions Dakar supports the efforts of the NGO SOS Sahel, working among the neediest populations in the regions crossed by the Dakar caravan. It works toward raising awareness, environmental education, and natural resource protection, including reforestation and protecting nature by enriching the land and forest resources, as well as promoting health improvements and water hygiene.
"Taking part in this contest is a great challenge for me, and I will dive in with my usual devotion in order to reach my objective, which is to reach Dakar," Monteiro declared, "Given the fact that I will not be battling for the top positions, we have decided to add a humanitarian project to my sporting adventure in order to help children in need. This project was put together with the participation of two humanitarian organisations, which have gathered some very precious aid from all of our sponsors."
The second charity to be helped by the attempt on the Dakar is Nariz Vermelho, which dedicates itself to helping hospitalised children in Monteiro's native Portugal.
"Thousands of children in Portugal will wake up in a hospital bed this year," he reflected, "Some will be there for minor treatment, others for more complex medical treatment. More than 27,000 children each year benefit from the efforts of Nariz Vermelho. Many will be deeply affected, but they all have a feeling of loneliness and will want to go home. Our objective is to make this daily life more human."
