Feedback from Lucile André & Lucile de Croisilles, students in the specialized engineering program at the Bordeaux campus.
The 4L Trophy adventure is not just about 10 days of rallying behind the wheel of the legendary 4L. This journey takes a lot of preparation, organization, and experience well before the starting line. It all began a year ago when we signed up for the great 4L Trophy adventure as team number 601 under the name Raid’Arts.
Why did we undertake this project?
Our thirst for adventure and sharing motivated us to participate in this extraordinary humanitarian expedition. We also wanted to prove that future female engineers were capable of getting their hands dirty! Finally, discovering another culture and another country was something that was very important to us.
In order to make our project a reality (budget of around €8,000: purchase and repairs of a Renault 4L, insurance, registration, food, gas, tolls, etc.) and help disadvantaged Moroccan children, we set out to find sponsors. We had to actively seek out partners, whether in the form of financial assistance or donations of materials (mechanical parts, school supplies, sports equipment, etc.). We also carried out activities such as Christmas gift wrapping at the Joué Club in Villenave d'Ornon during the weekends in November and December and ran a stand at the Christmas market in Pontonx sur l'Adour (40) to supplement our budget.
Thanks to our determination, we found 29 sponsors. Some partners were even willing to promote future Arts et Métiers engineers, such as Aptiskills Sud-Ouest, which offered us a very generous partnership and equipment for our rally. We owe them all a huge thank you for helping us bring this wonderful project to life! We encountered a few setbacks: the loss of a partner (covering), an engine that broke down one week before departure, etc. But the 4L Trophy is not always smooth sailing. That's what makes the adventure even more wonderful!
This initial phase was marked by moments of joy and excitement, but also by total demotivation. However, we always managed to bounce back and quickly find solutions thanks to our tenacity!
With our Renault 4L all ready to go, we head to Biarritz for the big departure. The excitement is mounting, and we can't wait to get going!
What a relief once the technical checks were complete. The adventure was finally opening its doors to us after a year of relentless work.
For 10 days, time stands still and you forget your "other life." Against a backdrop of breathtaking landscapes, desert tracks, and dunes, you navigate using a compass and a roadbook, helping each other along the way, meeting other teams with whom you forge bonds and exchange stories. Not to mention life at the bivouac, with Moroccan dinners, crackling campfires, celebrity encounters, and repairs at the mechanical center... All this in the middle of the desert, in the middle of nowhere! We didn't encounter any major problems apart from an ignition issue and a torn carburetor gasket. 6,000 km later, the adventure came to an end... In a rather strange way: on a tow truck! The cylinder head gasket failed so close to Bordeaux. It didn't want to return to France! We don't consider this a failure, as we accomplished our mission: to cross the finish line in Marrakesh, and what's more, without a hitch.
The 4L Trophy: above all, a human adventure
In our eyes, the 4L Trophy is above all a human adventure and an opportunity to share moments with other teams in an unfamiliar environment. We left our usual comforts behind to live with rudimentary equipment. What's more, it's a wonderful sporting and mechanical adventure behind the wheel of a legendary car in desert terrain. It's not every day that we have the chance to get involved in such a cause. We come away from this incredible adventure with invaluable experience that few other experiences can offer, and we feel enriched by it. The 4L Trophy cannot be described, it must be experienced!
