Dakar Rally: Start of a new era 🎥
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST After Africa and South America, Saudi Arabia is the new venue for the Dakar Rally. However, the favorites are the same. Swiss drivers are also at the start. A well-made film in English gives an insight into the history of this event, which was held for the first time 41 years ago, and explains what the 2020 Dakar Rally [...]
A well-made film in English provides insight into the history of this event, which was first held 41 years ago, and explains what the 2020 Dakar Rally is all about.
Over the course of time, the Paris-Dakar Rally, founded in 1978 by Frenchman Thierry Sabine, has become the epitome of the world's toughest off-road event. That's why Dakar has long since ceased to stand for the original destination in Senegal, but for the queen among cross-country rallies, no matter where it takes place and how controversial it is.
Not only the driving skills and material counts
After three decades on the African continent (1979-2007) and ten years in South America (2009-2019, it dropped out in 2008), the Dakar Rally is now making its first stop in Saudi Arabia. This means that the race is practically returning to its origins, when navigation was more important in the African deserts than the potential of the entry vehicle. The participants have to prepare for long and sometimes very fast special stages through almost endless desert landscapes.
Across the country
A total of twelve stages are scheduled from Sunday, January 5, to Friday, January 17. The route, which is around 9,000 kilometers long, leads from Jeddah via the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, where the rest day will also take place, to Al-Quiddia. Around 5000 kilometers in the country's deserts will be driven purely as special stages for best time.
Familiar terrain for last year's winner
The favorites are the same as in previous years in South America. However, last year's winner Nasser Al-Attiyah enjoys a home advantage, as no one knows such regions better than the desert son from the neighboring Emirate of Qatar. A second Toyota Hilux with a naturally aspirated 5-liter V8 engine and all-wheel drive is driven by Giniel de Villiers from South Africa, who is also desert-tested and won the 2009 Dakar in Argentina.
How is Alonso doing?
It will be exciting to see how long their new, prominent teammate Fernando Alonso will stay in the race in his Toyota Hilux. Just finishing the race would be a success for the former Formula 1 and current endurance world champion.
Mini against Toyota
Toyota Gazoo Racing's biggest opponents come from the German camp of X-raid, which is fielding several Minis also specially designed for this competition. Spearheads are 13-time Dakar winner on two and four wheels Stéphane Peterhansel from France and Spaniard Carlos Sainz, both on JCW buggies.
Two Swiss adventurers
With Rémy Vauthier, who drove a buggy to an outstanding 19th place overall in Bolivia last year, and Alexandre Pesci, two Swiss drivers are competing in the car category. Pesci is the Lausanne industrialist who also finances Rebellion Racing. At the age of 52, he is embarking on a new adventure with a specially developed Rebellion DXX buggy. Nasser Al-Attiyah acted as coach during the preparation.
Reports and information at Eurosport
The free sports channel Eurosport1 will broadcast a 30-minute feature with German commentary from the 42nd Dakar Rally 2020 every evening at 11 p.m. from January 5. In addition, there will also be daily up-to-date reports on the homepage.
eurosport.com/cross-country-rally/dakar
