#233 🇿🇦Shameer Variwa & 🇿🇦Danie Stassen

“ALL EYES TURNED TO DAKAR”

Motorsports run in the Variawa family from generation to generation. Shameer was inspired by his father and his children are both racing in karts around the world. For the last 27 years, the South African with Indian origins has been competing in all types of off-road events: in South Africa of course but also in the US and Mexico. The Dakar was the next one on his bucket list. His visit to South America and the bivouacs of Peru in 2018 convinced him. A year later, he was at the start of the event in a Nissan Navarra prepared by his own racing team. After all sorts of issues, and having to drive in the dust for most of the stages, his adventure stopped on day 9 after damaging his rear left suspension for good. Aware of what it takes to be competitive on the world’s toughest rally, Variawa returned but this time on Saudi soil and as a member of the Toyota Gazoo South-Africa squad in a very competitive Hilux. A decisive move for the successful businessman who managed to reach the finish at a rather promising 21st position. For his third appearance, Variawa will be counting on the help of a rookie co-driver Danie Stassen with whom he’s used to competing in the South-African Cross-Courntry Series. In the new Hilux T1+, the goal is now to enter the top 20 if not higher.

“My father used to be a racer back in the seventies. I’ve been competing for the last 26 years. I’ve won numerous championships, raced in Mexico and the USA, but I never had the opportunity to do the Dakar despite the fact it was a race I started following when I was nineteen. It was time to give a go. My first experience at Dakar left me wanting more from the race. Dakar 2019 did eventually get the better of us. They don’t call the Dakar the toughest race in the world for nothing. The last Dakar had its up and downs. We had issues at the start but we overcame that and kept on pushing and pushing. It was a great feeling to finish the Dakar on my second attempt. And this time it was with Toyota Gazoo Racing, which makes it even better. The new V6 engine has been highly impressive from the start. I’ve been campaigning the V8 version of the car in the SACCS, but couldn’t wait to finally get behind the wheel of the new car. All eyes are turned to Dakar now.”