Laika and Dakar, the dream continues

San Casciano in Val di Pesa, January 2021 – This year as well Laika vehicles accompanied the drivers in the toughest of competitions. The Spanish dealer Autosuministres Motor has in fact supplied two Laika vehicles, a Kosmo 509 low-profile and a Kosmo 909 motorhome, respectively, to the Spanish drivers Laia Sanz and Nani Roma.

The Dakar 2021 took place from 3 to 15 January in Saudi Arabia, with a circular route starting and finishing in Jeddah, consisting of 12 challenging stages. Saudi Arabia offers a wide variety of landscapes, forcing drivers – and with them our motorhomes – to adapt to different terrains and climates. This is a real exploration journey through often inhospitable territories, which put the endurance and sense of direction of our champions to the test.

The two Kosmos are ideal companions even on a demanding ride like this. The comfortable ergonomic L-shaped living area with high comfort padding and moveable table is an excellent mobile office for planning the demanding route day after day. The beds with wooden slats and high-comfort mattresses allow you to get the best possible rest and recharge for the next stage. Challenging Saudi Arabian roads with sandy and uneven terrain are no problem for the Kosmos, thanks to the numerous Electronic Stability Control features that are standard on both the Kosmo low-profile models and the motorhomes: ESP specific for motorhomes, ABS, ASR, Hill Holder and Roll Over Mitigation.

The strong insulation of the walls, roof and floor made of EPS polystyrene and the fibreglass underfloor protect the vehicles from the extreme temperature fluctuations of the desert, guaranteeing an optimal interior climate at all times of the day.

Laia Sanz, competing on a GASGAS Racing team bike, is undoubtedly one of the stars of the Dakar, a race in which she has participated 11 times and has always completed the course, a real record! She is also the best female driver in the race. This year, Laia was 17th in the overall bike ranking. This year’s participation has been a little tougher for her than other years, due to an injury that occurred during the 2020 competition and required several months of recovery. But the Catalan champion didn’t let herself down and competed again this year with her usual energy and strength. Kosmo 509 supported and accompanied her in this adventure.

Nani Roma (accompanied by co-driver Daniel Oliveras Carreras) ran this race in a Bahrain Raid Xtreme car. Also on the team with him is Sébastien Loeb, driving another car. This year, Nani gained 5^th place in the car ranking. Nani is also a veteran of the Dakar, having won it twice, and is now in his 25th year of participation. “I am looking forward to this journey with my team and to using my all-round experience to aim to win the Dakar,” he said before the start. Accompanying Nani Roma throughout the race was the Kosmo 909 motorhome.