The winner of FIA World Cup 2010 Russian pilot Leonid Novitskiy, who is the official driver of BMW X-Raid team, will start in “Italian Baja 2011” together with his team-mate Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel. Both pilots will start in Pordenone on BMW X3CC with new specification after “Dakar 2011” and in colors of their Sponsor Monster Energy.
Novitskiy, you won the FIA World Cup 2010. What feelings? What is your plan for this year? “The main feeling is responsibility. For me to win a title is half-affairs, and to save it is much more difficult. I consider that professional driver should be stable and show the high results regularly. So, for me and my co-driver Andreas Schulz the main goal for this year is to repeat the success of 2010 and to keep the titles”.
How is your left arm that was injured during last “Dakar”? “The situation with my arm is slightly worse, than was planned. There is still a pain in arm, restoration process isn’t finished and I can’t do the physical exercises. So we work with doctors and develop a special retentive bandage to unload the injured arm. We will use it during the race in Italy”.
The first event of FIA World Cup 2011 is Italian Baja. You have already been there and what is your impressions about it? “Yes, I took part in Italian Baja and I like this race. It is a high-level event and gives a good technical experience. I will do my best to be on podium this year”.
