Jean-Pierre Strugo has been at the Dakar Rally since 1985, making his debut in the seventh edition in a Citroën Visa 1000 Pistes. Four decades later, he was due to compete in the 47th Dakar with his MD Optimus.

However, as much as he loves spending the new year with his adoptive rally raid family, the 78-year-old wants to do it with his actual family for once. Thus, he’s deferred the #278 Optimus to MD Rallye Sport colleague Pierre Lachaume, who returns to racing after last competing in 2023.

“I’ve been leaving my wife alone for New Year’s Eve and the first two weeks of January for decades,” Strugo explained to tv78. While he is watching from home, he will still follow the rally as an analyst for the network. “I’m happy to be experiencing the race differently, offering a unique perspective on this edition.”

Strugo was a stalwart in the Dakar’s production classes (now represented by the Stock category) during the 1990s and 2000s. He scored his first top-ten finish in a factory Mitsubishi in 1996 before notching a stage win in Stage #11 of the 1997 race en route to a seventh. After a stint with Mercedes, Georges Groine’s program, and BMW, he joined MD Rallye Team in 2015.

He and Christophe Crespo retired from the 2024 Dakar.

Lachaume has been racing at Dakar for over a decade, finishing 13th at his most recent attempt in 2023. Unable to find a ride for 2024, he was going to be with the team as a mechanic before Strugo opted to step aside and let him take over. Strugo explained Lachaume “knows the car perfectly and has the qualities needed to succeed.”

The #278, still with Crespo calling the shots, finished 35th overall and 33rd in Ultimate during Friday’s Prologue.

Featured image credit: François Flamand / DPPI