Logistics: What are the responsibilities of the logistics manager for a rally team like yours?
David Serieys: I have a great many tasks that I must oversee at all times to ensure everything runs like clockwork. This includes organizing the entire team’s flights from Europe to Africa, hotel bookings and transfers along the entire rally route, as well as organizing the transport of spare parts, fuels, and lubricants for the vehicles participating in the event, along with all luggage. Of course, it is also my job to provide ongoing supervision of these activities to ensure they proceed smoothly and without disruption.
Logistics: How many people are in the Mitsubishi team on average during the Dakar Rally?
D. Serieys: About 60 people make up the Repsol Mitsubishi RalliArt team. We work full-time throughout the duration of the rally. In Europe and in Nouakchott, where we rest, we receive additional support from a dozen or so people.
Logistics: What is the division of roles in such a large team?
D. Serieys: Our team consists of 8 drivers and 24 support staff, including a psychotherapist, traveling in six Mitsubishi Pajeros. On top of that, there are 18 mechanics in six service trucks and another 6 mechanics in two rally trucks. Furthermore, two team members handle media relations.
Logistics: Logistics during the rally itself is one thing. But are the preparations for the event also a challenge?
D. Serieys: Before the racers start on the route, we begin preparations 6 months in advance. This includes, among other things, booking hotels in Lisbon and Africa and setting up the entire logistics support for all stages of the rally. Because we start so early, we are able to get any hotels at all. Truth be told, all these preparations take up the most time. Of course, one must add the perfect organization of spare parts transport and logistical supervision of the flight for a group of over a dozen people to the rest day in Atar, Mauritania. During the rally, we use Repsol fuel in Europe, Morocco, and Mauritania. But in Mali, Guinea, and Senegal, we use the help of the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) – the organizer of the Dakar Rally – to refuel.
Logistics: How much does experience help you?
D. Serieys: When it comes to Mitsubishi’s participation in the Dakar Rally, it is over 20 years of experience. Thanks to this, we have plenty of contacts on the African continent, which – as it turns out in practice – facilitate
our logistical support for our rally teams. We have our own agency in Nouakchott and one
in Morocco, and we use VSO – A.S.O.’s own travel agency. In essence, the logistics are the same
as during WRC events and the French Championship. Only the unpredictable Africa sometimes causes a bit of trouble.
Logistics: After the rally ends…
D. Serieys: …some of the rally cars and other vehicles return to Europe by ship from Dakar, while others, used for media displays, are transported by plane.
Logistics: So, this and other rallies are, besides the drivers’ feats, all about logistics?
D. Serieys: Good logistics means there will be no major problems during the rally, because
you know that you have done all the preparations well in advance. A challenge can only arise when
something completely unexpected suddenly appears that we have to deal with.
Logistics: Thank you for the interview.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 2007/2.