[gwyllion]

McRae wants another Dakar go
Colin upbeat about future Dakar attempts

Colin McRae is already talking about going back for another try at the Dakar Rally next season. The British former World Rally Champion finished a distant 20th in his first attempt at the marathon this year, but impressed with a couple of stage wins.

“It's probably the best début performance I've ever seen,” said Fred Gallagher, manager of McRae's Nissan team. “People like Ari Vatanen and Juha Kankunnen have won on their first appearance, but always with a superior car."

McRae finished 24 hours behind the overall winner, having lost time with transmission problems in the desert. But with the event having finished just two days ago, McRae told The Guardian that he is already thinking of a return for the 2005 edition.

“For sure I'd love to do it again,” said McRae. “And I have no reason to doubt that I can win the Dakar with Nissan. We've already started talking about how we can improve the car for next year.”

McRae's plans for the rest of 2004 are still up in the air. A works World Rally Championship drive is now impossible unless a manufacturer chooses to run a third car. The Scot has been in negotiations about competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

bron: http://www.autosport.com