From Naples to the Dakar, a possible dream

No one comes back the same Dakar. Always a forbidden dream, an undertaking for the most daring and a journey into the unknown, the most grueling rally in the world is also a school of life. So it was for Gaetano Avella, Emmanuel Buonaurio, Antonio Massathree young people from Naples.

Gaetano and Emmanuel studied mechatronics at Naples School of Makinga completely free four-year training course promoted by Riva Foundation and designed for children from difficult social contexts. Followed by a three-month internship atR-Team of Massarosa (Lucca), which fields 25 vehicles in the Dakar. A necessary preparation to then arrive at the competition as mechanics Damiano Lipani e Stefano Crementieri (R-Team).

Aged 21 and 20 respectively, the Dakar not only taught him a profession, but gave him the ability to dream. “It’s a wonderful adventure, it lasts beyond all expectations, but it opened our minds”, he confesses Gaetanocatapulted from Forcella to the boundless Saudi desert. “Working in the R-Team of over 100 people of different nationalities taught us order and discipline, teamwork, respect and mutual help. It opened a window on the world.”

The Dakar doesn’t give discounts and at the bivouac the alarm goes off at 5:00. “The days are endless: we work on the cars and once they leave for the special, we also hit the road towards the next bivouac, sometimes even 700 km of transfer per day. As soon as the race vehicles return, we get back on track at work,” he says Emmanuel of Secondigliano.

Having left as boys, in a week of running they are already men. “The best gift of this experience? dreaming big.” As Gaetano he would like to run a motorsport team one day, while Emmanuel aspires to become a “lollipop man” in Formula One.

He also dreams Antonio Massa. He also had the extraordinary opportunity to be on the Dakar thanks to Audio Visual Naples HUBwhich offers audiovisual production courses to young people from contexts at risk of marginalization. Thanks to Hub and Altra Napoli, Antonio and Roberta Rossini (from home) are making a documentary. Also on the Dakar was the professor, Francesco Claudio Cipolletta. “It’s wonderful to be here with Franck, my teacher. The course and the documentary we are making have already changed my life. I dream of one day working on sets as a creative director.”

Mission accomplished then. This social project which embraces sport was possible thanks to Renato Rickler, R-Team, the Alberto and Franca Riva Foundation and the Altra Napoli Association. “The idea was born from common connections and I must also thank our driver Lipani who embraced the cause. We are happy to host these guys, we hope it is the beginning of a long journey together”.