Mozambique: Dozens gather to welcome country’s first qualified Dakar driver

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Mozambique: Dozens gather to welcome country’s first qualified Dakar driver

2:38 CAT | 14 Oct 2020

Photo: Lusa

Several dozen people were on Wednesday at Maputo International Airport to welcome the Portuguese-Mozambican driver Paulo Oliveira, who became the first driver from Mozambique to qualify for the 43rd Dakar Rally, an all-terrain race.

Paulo Oliveira arrived at Maputo International Airport around 10.46 a.m. local time (9.46 a.m. in Lisbon) and was welcomed by a few dozen people, including friends, colleagues, family and leaders, who had been waiting for hours to congratulate him for the qualification, achieved at the Rally of Andalusia, Spain.

“We were not expecting a podium this last time, but the messages of support I received from our compatriots asked for the trophy. We managed to bring the second place in the class and we will continue to work,” the pilot told the media at Maputo International Airport.

The next Dakar Rally, the Queen’s off-road race, will take place from 3 to 15 January in Saudi Arabia and, despite being aware of the challenge, Paulo Oliveira wants to achieve good results.

“I will try to repeat the feat of going to the podium, but the races are races. We have to be aware of the competition,” he said.

The Portuguese-Mozambican was born in Seia, Portugal, 46 years ago and, besides one of the oldest professional drivers in the African country, Paulo Oliveira is the administrator of the Salvador Caetano Group in Mozambique.

Source: Lusa