Newly formed Saudi rally raid outfit, Team Galag have confirmed they will be running a FIA T4 SSV at the 2022 Dakar Rally. Following a successful first outing for the new buggy at the Rallye du Maroc, the team is confident it has developed a competitive package for the gruelling Saudi race.
A buggy ready to face the desert!
Team Galag’s Can-Am TG-D1 is built and developed by MMP Competition out of Toulouse, France. MMP has over 20 years of experience building rally cars and will also be providing valuable team support throughout the rally.
Driven by a well working duo: Jerome De Sadeleer & Mika Metge
The crew is composed of Jerome de Sadeleer who will be tasked with driving the buggy in his first Dakar, joined by Dakar’s veteran Mika Metge (8 participations) who is now focusing on co-driving after a successful motorcycle career. Jerome and Mika finished 3rd at the Baja Aragon this summer and also successfully completed the Rallye du Maroc in october, on their road to Dakar!
And supported by a legendary winner: Cyril Neveu
Rally-Raid legend and 5x Dakar winner Cyril Neveu will be joining as Team Principal. Cyril won the motorcycle division of the Dakar Rally five times in 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, and 1987. From 1991, Cyril was the organizer for over 20 years of both the Rallye du Maroc and the Rallye de Tunisie. Team Galag will benefit from his deep experience in rally raid both as a competitor and organizer.
Jérôme de Sadeleer – Driver : « I am so excited to be doing my Dakar debut with Team Galag. As you have seen with Fernando Alonso, I think every racer no matter the level, dreams of one day participating in this legendary race. While I am confident that we have done the right preparation to be competitive, I don’t underestimate the task ahead. Dakar is without doubt the hardest motorsports event in the world. It will be great to partner again with Mika, as we were fast at the Rallye du Maroc and get along very well. I also look forward to working with a legend like Cyril Neveu as he knows the desert and rally raid like no one else. »
Mika Metge – Navigator : « I am very happy to be back at the Dakar Rally as a Co-Driver. Right before my last planned Dakar in 2020, I had a fall and had cancelled my participation in the rally, so it feels very good to be back. To be honest, I did not expect the co-driver role to be as rewarding and satisfying as it is, so I am very excited to get going. Jerome and I had good Baja Aragon and Rallye du Maroc, and I felt we learned a lot there. I want to thank the team for their trust, and I am confident that we can get a good result in Saudi Arabia. »
Talal Al Faisal – Founder & Team Owner : « It’s a dream come true to finally launch Team Galag’s racing division. I have been closely following the Dakar for last few years and became especially passionate when the rally moved to Saudi Arabia. It was therefore only a logical step for us to build a team and race in the world’s toughest rally. I also am delighted to have Cyril Neveu join the team as Team Principal. Cyril is a rally raid pioneer, 5x Dakar winner and highly regarded event organizer. His skillset is exactly what we need to set up a competitive team. Our race crew, Jerome and Mika have already proven they work well together during the Rallye du Maroc so I am excited to see their performance. »
Cyril Neveu – Team Principal : « I’m pleased to join Team Galag as Team Principal and thank Talal for his trust. I am excited to come back to Rally Raid and use my experience to create a highly competitive Dakar program.This year has been all about furthering the development of our buggy and getting Jerome, a road racer used to tough conditions of the desert. Thankfully, we have Mika Metge who has a lot of previous experience in Rally Raid. I have seen their work together at the Baja Aragon and the Rallye du Maroc and I must say they make a strong crew. I also want to thank MMP Competition for his dedication to create a truly exceptional race car. »
Photos DR + MFE