PORTUGAL: MOTOR RACING - Blind mechanic Carlos Filipe prepares race cars for next Lisbon-Dakar rally

Record ID: 776004

  • Title: PORTUGAL: MOTOR RACING - Blind mechanic Carlos Filipe prepares race cars for next Lisbon-Dakar rally
  • Date: 30th December 2006
  • Summary: WIDE OF REPAIR SHOP PAN REPAIR SHOP INTERIOR WITH CAR TO BE PREPARED FILIPE WORKING IN LUIS FERREIRA'S LAND-ROVER 4X4 (WITH ANGOLAN FLAG AT THE REAR) TOOL PANEL FILIPE WORKING
  • Embargoed: 14th January 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2AJYMZ6ISAU4U8GBEFQKT5F75
  • Story Text: In a workshop in a small village in the north of Portugal a blind mechanic is preparing three race cars for the next Lisbon-Dakar rally. He hopes his hands will enable three Land Rovers taking part January's rally to make it all the way to the finish line.
    Fifty-six-year-old Carlos Filipe, who became blind more than 20 years ago after failed eye surgery, said he hoped his handicap would not stop the three cars from reaching the end of the 8,000 kilometre race in Dakar.
    "As long as I have an assistant working with me I can still take the motor out, fix it and put it back in place," Filipe told Reuters while removing a shock absorber at his small workshop in Pareidinha village, 150 kilometres north of Lisbon.
    "The goal is to help these three cars reach the end of the race." he said
    Last year, Filipe helped two of the Land Rovers he is currently working on reach the finish line at Dakar in 57th and 58th position.
    "He is blind but that does not get on his way," said Luis Ferreira, one of the Land Rover drivers who finished in 57th place in the last Lisbon-Dakar.
    "To take this machine again all the way to Dakar would be the biggest gift we could give Carlos Filipe and his son Hugo," he added.
    The epic race is scheduled to take off from Lisbon on Jan. 6 and is scheduled to end in Dakar on January 21.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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