BOLZANO. The dream continues at the Dakar Classic for the former politician and former owner of the automotive company Autotest, Josef Unterholzner. The South Tyrolean yesterday, at the seventh stage of the rally with historic cars underway in Saudi Arabiafinished fifth, thus entering the top ten of the general classification.
The former provincial councilor currently ranks ninth.
Cars that have already participated in an edition of the Dakar before the year 2000 can participate in the Dakar Classic. The 64-year-old, with navigator Franco Gaioni, races for the “R Team” with a 200 horsepower Mitsubishi Pajero.
Four Italians are currently in the top positions: Lorenzo Traglio (2), Antonio Ricciari (7), Marco Ernesto Leva (8) and Josef Unterholzner (9). In 2018 Unterholzner was elected to the Provincial Council with Team K. After the split from Paul Köllensperger he founded the Enzian list, but failed to be re-elected in 2023. The South Tyrolean has long cultivated a passion for car racing, also taking part in races with electric cars. The Dakar will end next Friday 7,800 kilometers.