Salazar targets world record on WRC debut

Former grand prix racer Eliseo Salazar will be aiming to set a new Guinness World Record when he makes his debut in the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia on next week’s Philips Rally Argentina.

The 57-year-old from Chile already holds the record as the only driver to have taken part in the Indianapolis 500, Le Mans 24 Hours, Monaco Grand Prix and the Dakar Rally. Now he will add a world championship rally start to that list of achievements to earn the unofficial ‘racing star’.

“At first I thought there’s no way but then I thought I’ll do it and we’ll call it the star with five points, something nobody has ever done and we seriously want to apply to the Guinness Book of World Records,” Salazar told WRC.com.

Salazar will compete in a Prodrive-run MINI John Cooper Works WRC alongside co-driver Marc Marti, who returns to the world championship for the first time since RallyRACC-Rally de Espana in October 2010. Salazar prepared for his WRC debut with a test in Portugal last month.

“I had Kris Meeke to teach me and I was in one second per kilometre of his times so I was happy but I don’t have any high expectation because it’s such a hard speciality in motorsport,” said Salazar, who was a guest of Prodrive at the recent Vodafone Rally de Portugal. “I want to do a decent job and hopefully finish the race and complete the racing star.”

Chilean beer company Cristal is supporting Salazar through its alcohol-free Cer0 brand. Prior to heading to the Rally Argentina base in Carlos Paz, Salazar will perform demonstration runs in his MINI in Santiago, the capital of his homeland.