Salazar: WRC debut was tough

Ex-Formula One racer Eliseo Salazar says his debut in the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia proved to be harder than the Dakar Rally, which is ranked as one of motorsport’s toughest tests of endurance.

Salazar finished 12th overall on Philips Rally Argentina, which finished on Sunday afternoon, in a Prodrive-run MINI John Cooper Works WRC to set a new Guinness World Record as the first driver to contest the Dakar, Indianapolis 500, Le Mans 24 Hours, Monaco Grand Prix and a round of the WRC.

Following Friday’s first day of action, which totalled 197.96 competitive kilometres, Salazar told Autosport.com: “In Dakar you do five or six hours and then you go relax and go in the hotel. But Friday was crazy! I woke up at 04:30hs and at 22:00hrs we were still going. And on this event you are going flat out and pushing as hard as you can, whereas in Dakar you are driving at 80 per cent.”

Despite the tough nature of Rally Argentina, the 57-year-old from Chile was thrilled to have achieved his goal of tackling five prestigious events. However, he has no immediate plans to return to the WRC.

“I guess it doesn’t help that I chose to make my debut in the WRC on such a tough event, but I’m happy, it’s great to drive these cars,” said Salazar, who was co-driven by Spaniard Marc Marti.