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TEAM DAKAR USA
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The Dakar
History of the Dakar Rally
TEAM DAKAR USA
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The Dakar
Since
its creation in 1978, Le Dakar has inspired dreams and passions. From
the very outset of this mythical race, the rally has become a true
social phenomenon. Nurtured by the spirit of adventure and the passion
of its courageous participants, Le Dakar has since remained faithful to
its founding values: in the heart of Africa, a unique sporting
competition experienced by all, amateurs and professionals alike, as a
matchless human experience. |
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A MATCHLESS HUMAN EXPERIENCE
At the outset of Le Dakar, one man’s dream outrode everything. In 1977,
Thierry Sabine, motorcycle rider on the Abidjan-Nice Rally, was saved
in extremis after being lost in the Libyan desert. The following year,
he created Le Paris-Dakar, a race open to all riders and drivers
sparked by the spirit of adventure. Since then, the popular, media and
sporting success of Le Dakar has never failed. Without forsaking any of
its magic, Le Dakar has moved on, gained in maturity and safety,
welcomed an ever-increasing number of competitors of all nationalities,
all come to seek after a dream in its raw form, adventure and the quest
of their own limits.
MEETING WITH AFRICA
En route for superb landscapes, riders & drivers also meet up with
captivating peoples and many of them fall in love with Africa. Early
on, the event’s creators wanted to give back to Africa what the
continent had offered them in terms of pure emotion. By signing a
partnership with SOS SAHEL in September 2002, Le Dakar underlined its
intent to pursue and extend help to African populations. Under the
label “ACTIONS DAKAR”, a three-year plan was launched to combat
desertification of the Sahel strip in the Senegal and provide a
healthier environment for the town of Louga.
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| A UNIQUE SPORTING COMPETITION |
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Every year, Le Dakar is January’s leading sporting event. Open to all
riders, amateurs and professionals alike, the most prestigious
rally-trek, organized by national and international federations, brings
together an average 500 competitors every year, be it car, motorcycle
or truck.
ORIGINATION
The
race originated in 1978, a year after racer Thierry Sabine got lost in
the desert and he decided this would be a good location for a regular
rally. Originally, the rally was from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal, interrupted by a transfer across the Mediterranean; however due to politics and other factors, the course, including origin and destination, have been varied over the years.
1999: Granada to Dakar
2000: Dakar to Cairo, Egypt
2001: Paris to Dakar, Senegal
2002: Arras, in the north of France (160 km from Paris), through Madrid, Spain, to Dakar
2003:Marseilles to Sharm el Shiekh
2004: Clermont-Ferrand to Dakar
2005: Barcelona, Spain to Dakar
2006: From Lisbon, Portugal to Dakar, December 31, 2005–January 15, 2006, 9,043 km (5,619 mi)
80% amateurs - 20% professionals
40% of new competitors each year
39 NATIONALITIES :
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60 % foreign competitors
•
40 % French competitors
IN 2005, 464 VEHICLES AT THE LINE-UP
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230 motorcycles
•
164 cars
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69 trucks
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224 assistance vehicles
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INTERNET :
www.dakar.com
• 5 language versions
• 58 millions of pages viewed (+41% over and against 2004)
• 2.6 million visitors
Source: broadcasters | |
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