Rally Raid
This is how Jakub 'Kuba' Przygonski can make history at Dakar 2020
As we look ahead to the Dakar 2020, we cast our eyes over some of this year’s competitors. Will we see Jakob 'Kuba' Przygonski reach the podium?
It wasn’t so long ago that Jakob 'Kuba' Przygonski was racing on two wheels instead of four. For the past four years, however, the top rookie on a bike at Dakar 2009 has been tearing it up in the cars class, scaling the rankings and now finding himself in contention for the podium at Dakar 2020.
If he were to reach the very top, 33-year-old Kuba would make history as the first Polish winner in the cars category. And while he may not be everyone’s bet to come away with the top prize, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him roar his way into history books at Dakar 2020.
Category
Kuba will be racing in his Orlen X-Raid Mini.
Co-driver
Kuba will be working with experienced co-driver Tom Colsoul, who won the overall Dakar title in 2003, navigating Iveco’s Gerard de Rooy to victory.
Race record
Since making the switch to four wheels, Kuba’s race record has been hugely impressive. He secured the title at the 2018 FIA Cross-Country Rallies World Cup with four victories, and climbed places in the last four Dakar Rally events, moving from 15th in 2016, to 7th in 2017, to 5th in 2018, before clinching 4th place in 2019. Momentum is definitely on his side.
Biggest rival
South African Giniel De Villiers reached the podium two places ahead of Kuba in Dakar 2018, though fell behind the Pole in last year’s event, finally finishing 9th. However, the former Dakar winner came out on top during October’s 2019 Rallye du Maroc, ahead of Kuba, so expect this to be a duel to keep your eye on.
Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski and previous co-driver Timo Gottschalk
© Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool
In his words
“After Morocco we stopped racing because we needed to be fresh for Dakar,” Kuba explains to Dakar.com. “Now is the time to build up strength and focus on physical training. But we are confident, we are ready to fight with the top guys, even if I'm one of the youngest in the group of super-fast drivers. The last race in Morocco showed that we are really strong, so we will try our best. On the Dakar, you also need a little bit of luck. I can't wait for the first stage. All year long, we've been preparing, thinking about the Dakar, so that we're ready for the beginning of January."
Chances of success
Kuba’s race record, on two wheels as well as four, speaks for itself, and with him and co-driver Colsoul climbing places with each passing Dakar, the same could occur this year. We expect a podium place for Kuba and Colsoul, with a very real chance of challenging for the top spot.
