Daniel Elena facts for kids
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Elena in 2012.
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Monégasque |
| Born | 26 October 1972 |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 1998–2013, 2015, 2018–2020 |
| Teams | Citroën, Kronos Citroën, Hyundai |
| Rallies | 181 |
| Rally wins | 79 |
| Podiums | 118 |
| Stage wins | 925 |
| First rally | 1998 Monte Carlo Rally |
| First win | 2002 Rallye Deutschland |
| Last win | 2018 Rally Catalunya |
| Last rally | 2020 Rally Turkey |
Daniel Elena (born 26 October 1972), also known as "Danos", is a famous Monégasque rally co-driver. He is best known for working with Sébastien Loeb. Together, they won the World Rally Championship (WRC) nine times. They raced with Citroën and later with Hyundai. Their 79 wins make Daniel Elena the co-driver with the most victories in WRC history!
Contents
Daniel Elena's Amazing Career
Daniel Elena started his rally career in 1992. He first worked as a co-driver for Christophe Bovini. His first full season was in 1996 with Hervé Bernard. They competed in the French national championships.
Partnering with Sébastien Loeb
In 1998, Daniel Elena became Sébastien Loeb's co-driver. They quickly became a very strong team. In 1998, they won every race they finished in the Citroën Saxo Trophy. The next year, 1999, they won the overall trophy.
Citroën started to support them in 2000. They won the two-wheel drive class of the French gravel title. In 2001, they won the FIA Super 1600 championship. This championship is now known as the J-WRC. They also won the French national championship that year.
Joining the World Rally Championship
Because of their success, Citroën chose them for their WRC team. They raced in their first WRC event in 2001. They finished an amazing second place at the San Remo Rally. In 2002, they had their first WRC win at Rallye Deutschland.
By 2003, they were full-time WRC competitors. They raced against famous drivers like Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz. Loeb and Elena finished second overall that season.
Nine World Titles in a Row!
From 2004 to 2012, Daniel Elena and Sébastien Loeb made history. They won nine World Rally Championship titles in a row! This is a record that no other team has matched. Loeb retired from the series in 2013.
Returning to Rally Racing
Loeb came back to WRC in 2018. Elena joined him again with Citroën. They raced in three events and won the Rally Catalunya. Then, Hyundai Motorsport signed Loeb for 2019 and 2020. Elena was once again his co-driver.
Between 2016 and 2019, Loeb and Elena also competed in the famous Dakar Rally. They drove a special Peugeot 3008. They finished on the podium twice. In 2021, they raced in a Prodrive car but had to stop early. After 23 years, Daniel Elena and Sébastien Loeb decided to go their separate ways.
Daniel Elena has also driven in a few rallies himself. These races were always in France, including the Monte-Carlo Rally.
Monte Carlo Rally Wins
Loeb and Elena won the famous Monte Carlo Rally seven times. This is Daniel Elena's home rally. They won in 2003–2005, 2007–2008, and 2012–2013.
The Michael Park Trophy
Daniel Elena was the first person to receive the Michael Park Trophy. This award is given every year to the best co-driver in rally.
Daniel Elena's Life
Personal Life
Daniel Elena is divorced and has two daughters, Romane and Dorine. He has a new partner, Anaïs Reyne. They welcomed a daughter named Joy on October 9, 2020.
Commitment to Peace
Daniel Elena is a member of the 'Champions for Peace' club. This group has 54 famous athletes. They work to promote peace around the world through sports. This club was created by Peace and Sport, an international organization based in Monaco.
See also
In Spanish: Daniel Elena para niños
