The Beast, it is a well-known appearance for the followers of the Dakar Rally. “The only one of its kind”, Tim Coronel describes the car washed out of the classes. Brutal, that’s the best description for the beastly car.
With a 6.2 liter V8 engine, the car shows its teeth with a loud hum. No, none of the electrical stuff for Tim and Tom, just old-fashioned horsepower. And there are plenty of them on board. 440 hp and 620 Nm of torque must ensure that RacingNews365’s racing friends in Saudi Arabia conquer everything. During the Dakar Rally 2021, the duo again awaits plenty of challenges. Fast paths, dusty sandy paths, sand and of course: dunes!
The run-up to the Dakar Rally was again all about improving this year. The Beast went through its biggest makeover with Tim at the helm. Almost everything has changed and Tim enthusiastically talks about the ‘diet’ that his car received: “We have gained some power and the torque is better. Actually we have redesigned the car as a whole. Different doors, a short rear, lighter bodywork , different dampers “, Tim begins to after two minutes of talking about all the changes to the conclusion that The Beast can compete for the main prize in a knockout race. “We saved somewhere between 150 and 200 kilos!”
One of the things that is also new about The Beast is that there is the logo of RacingNews365 on the hood. As the readers of our platform are used to, we will provide updates on the adventures of Tim and Tom throughout the Dakar Rally and there is also the possibility to ask questions.
Interview continues below the photo.
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Once arrived in Saudi Arabia, the Coronels also find that strict measures apply there because of the corona virus. Immediately after arriving at the hotel, the twins, like the rest of the team, had to be in complete isolation for 48 hours. “We were stuck in our room. All our own room. Then we were tested and only after a negative result were we ‘free’. It will also be different during the Dakar Rally. There are no fans and in the bivouac. the atmosphere will be very different. “
Normally the drivers and team members enjoyed the rally together. Togetherness was always central, especially among the Dutch participants. “Now we all have to stay with our own team. I don’t know what it will all look like during the rally, we will experience that and it can differ from day to day”, Tim says soberly ahead.
Brother Tom is fully loaded for the rally. Sitting still is not his thing and the 48 hours in his room were not his thing. “I’m really looking forward to it! We are really going to drive together this year. We’ve talked about that before, but now I really want to do a few stages. How and when? We’ll see that during the rally. . “
When asked whether Tim dares to give up ‘his Beast’, he answers with a laugh: “Yes. Tom can really send a game. It is not that he is participating in Dakar for the first time, he has already been in drove the buggy “, with which Tim refers to the world famous (nightly) adventures of Tim and Tom in the desert. According to Tom, it is unique that two drivers share a car during the rally, in which it is normally the case that one drives and the other navigates the entire rally.
“Our car is simply controversial. It is a unique car, the only Baja car to appear at the start. Recognizable! A roaring beast!” Said Tom. “We also have other tires this year, some kind of competition tires with a softer rubber type. That should help us too.”
The duo is unanimous about the final goal this year: “Top 20. It was already in place last year. We will start the rally in 47th place and will probably just be in the top 30 for the first days, but will start slowly. We accelerate. The most important thing is that we perform consistently, “said Tim.
“There are more factory cars and plenty of Toyotas and Minis, but the top 20 must be possible”, Tom nods unanimously. Who will win the rally? There are two favorites for both Tim and Tom: “Carlos Sainz or Nasser Al-Attiyah. It will be a Mini or a Toyota anyway.
The 11 kilometer prologue is scheduled for Saturday, the rally really starts on Sunday.
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