Organized by the Amaury Sport Organisation, the Dakar Rally
is an annual off road automobile race. It is an endurance race
that that sees competitors traversing all kinds of terrain including
sand dunes, mud, erg, camel grass and rocks. Approximately 80%
of the participants are amateurs, but the race is also open
to professionals.
The race started in 1978 and it has mostly been ran from Paris
in France to Dakar in Senegal, but in 2009 the race was ran
in South America – the first time in its history that it has
taken place outside of Europe and Africa.
The race itself is split into three main classes; the bike or
moto class, the car class and the truck class. Many vehicle
manufactures are represented in the race, although vehicles
are heavily modified or purpose built to cope with the various
taxing terrains of each stage. The stages range from short distances
to up to 900 kms (560 miles) per day.
Over the years the race has had its share of incidents, notably
in 1982 Mark Thatcher, the son of the then British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher, along with his co-driver and mechanic went
missing for 6 days. They were found, unharmed, after a large-scale
military search, 50 kms (30 miles) off course.
The Dakar Rally, or The Paris-Dakar as it is sometimes known,
is a true test of endurance and is not for the faint hearted. |
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