Villas-Boas driven by Dakar dream

Published October 1, 2011

Andre Villas Boas Chelsea Reuters
Chelsea's coach Andre Villas-Boas gestures during their Champions League Group E football match against Valencia at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia September 28, 2011.-Reuters Photo

LONDON: Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas wants to translate his lifelong passion for motorsport into taking part in the gruelling Dakar Rally.

The 33-year-old also admitted that even a motorcycle accident when he was younger won't put him off his ambition.

“My first bike was a 350. I started straight away with a heavy engine. I went into a national competition in Portugal and then broke my arm. This was in a period when I was coaching Porto's youth team,” he said.

Villas-Boas owns five motorbikes and is part-owner of a collection of 12 cars, including some classics.

“I have a couple of bikes from the Dakar Rally that I own,” he said, revealing he would love to enter the famous race before admitting: “It's expensive.”

“I'm a bit of a crazy head with Enduro bikes as well, so I go into the mountains and almost kill myself. It feels fantastic.

“It's my escape, it's my passion and you feel well. You feel the need for it.

“It is very adrenaline-fuelled. All of us have our passions and we respond to it in different ways.”

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