Lucas Barron to make Dakar Rally history as first Down Syndrome competitor

The 25-year-old will be co-pilot for father Jacques in the 5,000km race

Jacques Barron, left, and his son and co-driver Lucas Barron, 25, pose at a mechanics workshop in Lima ahead of the 2019 Dakar Rally. AFP

Jacques Barron, right, and his son and co-driver Lucas Barron, 25, pose at a mechanics workshop in Lima ahead of the 2019 Dakar Rally. AFP

Lucas Barron poses for a picture next to his UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) at a mechanics workshop in Lima. AFP

A mechanic works on Jacques Barron and his son and co-driver Lucas Barron's UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) at a workshop in Lima. AFP

Lucas Barron, 25, poses for a picture at a mechanics workshop in Lima. AFP

A mechanic works on Jacques Barron and his son and co-driver Lucas Barron's UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) at a workshop in Lima. AFP

Jacques Barron and his son and co-driver Lucas Barron check their UTV at a mechanics workshop in Lima.

Lucas Barron, 25, smiles at a mechanics workshop in Lima where his car is being prepared to take part in the upcoming Dakar Rally. AFP

Jacques Barron and his son and co-driver Lucas Barron, 25, pose under their UTV at a mechanics workshop in Lima. AFP

Lucas Barron will make history on Sunday when he lines up on the Dakar 2019 starting line in Peru, becoming the first person with Down Syndrome to take part in the gruelling race.

The 25-year-old, who will be co-pilot for his father Jacques, will tackle the world's most demanding rally: a 5,000-kilometre, 10-day marathon, 70 per cent of which will be raced over sand.

"Our aim is to finish the race and achieve our goal," Barron told AFP. "This race is brilliant for me. It will be easy because we know the route."

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Barron, who has been training for a year-and-a-half alongside his father, will ride on one of 500 vehicles taking part in the race. They will compete in the UTV category for off-road four-wheel drive buggies, a class that was added for the first time in 2017.

Born in Lima, Barron has always been a keen sportsman, taking part in swimming, football, cycling, surfing and water-skiing. He says he's "ready and able to overcome the desert dunes". Barron says he will provide important mechanical assistance to his father.

"I'm going to help him look at the engine, the road and the tyres," he said.

He is familiar with the Peruvian terrain that will host the entirety of the Dakar Rally this year after Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia declined the opportunity due to austerity measures.

In September, he was co-pilot alongside his father in the Desafio Inca race that acted as preparation for the main event and took on the dunes of Ica, in the south of Peru. The "Barron x 2" team finished seventh.

While Down Syndrome can cause lifelong intellectual disability and development delays, those with the condition can still lead fulfilling lives.

Jacques Barron, a 55-year-old engineer, told AFP that Dakar organisers had no problem with his son taking part. The requirements were the same as for any other competitor: passing all the medical exams and supplying the necessary documentation.

"Lucas already has the International Automobile Federation licence to participate in the Dakar," said Barron Senior, who has competed in the Dakar five times.

"He knows how to look at the temperature of the belt, the oil and tyre pressure. Lucas's eyes will be the cars' eyes to avoid crashing into another car or any object.

"People with Down Syndrome can develop certain abilities: Lucas can play any sport."

The Dakar will be run from January 6-17, starting in Peru's capital Lima and traversing the southern regions of Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua and down to Tacna on the border with Chile.

The longest, and toughest stage will cover 370km from Arequipa to Tacna on January 10.

The Barron team's main aim is simply to finish the race.

Lucas Barron has the support of one of his heroes, five-time motorbike winner Cyril Despres of France, a friend of his father's.

"Despres wrote to me on Facebook congratulating me," he said, adding that the Frenchman gave him a signed shirt in 2017 - a treasured possession.