Juan Manuel Silva, before a new challenge in the Dakar: “This year I will try to get on the podium”

“This is Dakar, men”. That phrase he once uttered on the dusty roads of Argentina to summarize everything it means to compete in the most difficult race in the world, has over time become the hallmark of Juan Manuel Silva, who has become an expert in the discipline and who At 49, he is preparing to take part in the great adventure for the 13th time.

The driver from Chaco, former champion of TC2000 and Road Tourism, among other achievements, was presented together with the Puma Energy Rally Team, which for the second consecutive year will compete in Saudi Arabia.

The Dakar 2023 will start on December 31, with the day of the Prologue, and will end on January 15, on the shores of the Persian Gulf, then the competition will cross from West to East to Saudi Arabia.

“I’m back to Side by Side, a category that brings back good memories. I won in the Open category in Peru 2019. I know the car a lot “Juan Manuel Silva commented to Clarín, during the presentation of the Puma Energy Rally Team, in view of the Dakar 2023, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.

The driver from Chaco, who raced aboard a truck in 2022, will now return to a light vehicle, as he will race in Side by Side, or what were once called UTVs.

“The last Dakar I had a special experience with the truck. He suffered more than expected. For next year, reality indicates that the Kamaz team, which is the broad ruler of the discipline, is not present and this generates a different expectation, as many drivers now see themselves as potential winners. This was generated by the war conflict in Russia, so Kamaz would not have been there “explained Silva, who will race in the hardest adventure in the world for the 13th time.

“We had to define the Dakar 2023 very soon, and for this we had to crystallize the team, that’s why I returned to Side by Side”he highlighted.

Silva explained what the difference is this time to face a new Dakar: “I am motivated to fight again. It would take me two or three years. Although I had already won, it was a basic category at the time. It has now become very competitive, with around 40 or 50 cars. We will look for a place on the podium ”.

Regarding the race, which will start on December 31st, Silva indicated: “It will be very demanding, it will be one more day, with more kilometers than usual. This Dakar I will look for a place. Before I was trying to get there and I ran with a margin and aim to get there. Now I want to get on the podium “.

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While, Luca cleverMarketing Manager of Puma Energy in Argentina, commented: “This project marks how Puma Energy grows around the world. A few years ago people were asked if they knew the brand and very few knew about our existence. Now 8 out of 10 know us and many of them choose us, so we are very happy with the evolution of the sports project, not only with the Dakar but also with national motorsports, together with the Puma Energy Team of TC2000 and in Highway Tourism.

The Puma Energy Rally Team, in addition to the Argentine, will be composed of the Paraguayan Andrea Lafarja, who will race on a truck, and the Guatemalan driver Francisco Arredondo, on a motorcycle.