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) is a famous Monégasque rally co-driver. He is often called "Danos" by his fans. Daniel Elena is best known for working with the rally driver Sébastien Loeb.
Together, Daniel Elena and Sébastien Loeb won the World Rally Championship (WRC) nine times. They achieved these wins with the Citroën team. Later, they also raced with Hyundai. With 79 wins, Daniel Elena holds the record for the most victories as a co-driver in WRC history.
Contents
Rally Career Highlights
Daniel Elena began his rally career in 1992. He started 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 formed a strong team. In 1998, they won every event they finished in the Citroën Saxo Trophy. They then won the overall trophy in 1999. The next year, with some support from Citroën, 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. Citroën then chose them for their WRC team. Their first WRC race was the 2001 San Remo Rally, where they finished second.
Winning World Championships
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.
From 2004 to 2012, they won nine World Rally Championship titles in a row! This was an amazing achievement. Sébastien Loeb then took a break from the series in 2013.
Later Years in WRC
When Loeb returned to WRC in 2018, Elena joined him again. They raced for Citroën in three events and won the Rally Catalunya. Later, Hyundai Motorsport offered Loeb a two-year contract for some races in 2019 and 2020. Daniel Elena was once again his co-driver.
Dakar Rally and Partnership End
Between 2016 and 2019, Loeb and Elena also competed in the famous Dakar Rally. They drove a special Peugeot 3008 car. They finished on the podium twice in this tough race. In 2021, they entered the Dakar Rally again but had to stop early. A couple of months later, Daniel Elena shared that his long partnership with Sébastien Loeb had ended. They had worked together for 23 years.
Daniel Elena has also driven in a few rallies himself. This includes the Monte-Carlo Rally.
Loeb and Elena won the famous Monte Carlo Rally seven times. This is Daniel Elena's home rally. Their wins were in 2003–2005, 2007–2008, and 2012–2013.
Daniel Elena was the first person to receive the Michael Park Trophy. This award is now given every year to the best co-driver.
Personal Life
Daniel Elena has two daughters, Romane and Dorine, with his former wife. He and his new partner, Anaïs Reyne, welcomed another daughter named Joy on 9 October 2020.
Commitment to Peace
Daniel Elena is a member of the ‘Champions for Peace’ club. This group includes 54 famous athletes. They work to promote peace around the world through sports. The club was created by Peace and Sport, an international organization based in Monaco.
Images for kids
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Elena in 2012.
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Elena celebrating victory at the 2005 Cyprus Rally.
See also
In Spanish: Daniel Elena para niños
