Former Chinese Super League boss Andre Villas-Boas sitting comfortably mid-table after day two of debut Dakar Rally in Peru
Portuguese following in family tradition by competing but he promises to return to the dugout after fulfilling dreams with Overdrive Toyota
After two stages Villas-Boas and countryman Ruben Faria sit in the middle of the 88-car field.
The pair, who are competing for Overdrive Toyota, picked up a 20-minute penalty on Sunday’s day two Pisco-Pisco stage in the Peruvian desert.
They sit three-hours-and-48 minutes behind race leaders Cyril Despres and David Castera of Peugeot Total.
Before embarking on the race he told The Times that he did not fear death, saying: “You know it can happen but you just accept it and move on.”
This 40th edition of the two-week long rally began in Peru on Saturday and travels through Bolivia before climaxing in Argentina on January 20.
Villas-Boas, who has also managed Porto, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, has suggested that he will return to football after his racing days are over and is looking for a European club.
Monday’s stage three goes from Pisco to San Juan de Marcona, with the first car setting off at 9.11pm Hong Kong time.