 THE DAKAR RALLY
Since its creation in 1978, the Dakar has inflamed the imagination and engendered passion. A legendary race, the Dakar has become a social phenomenon.
Nourished by the spirit of adventure and the enthusiasm of its courageous participants, the Dakar remains faithful to its founding values: a unique sporting competition in the heart of Africa experienced by all, amateurs and professionals, as an extraordinary human adventure.
Born from the audacious vision of one man, Thierry Sabine, the race rapidly took on a structure with specific regulations, creating a new discipline: the rally raid. A rigorous and selective competition, the Dakar has been able to attract the great names of mechanical sports.
Over and beyond the sporting verdict, the raw results provided by the chronometers, all Dakar competitors share very special moments, strong sensations, unforgettable events, in short a common history that unites them for life.
Once the rally has ended, the tribulations become just good memories and an excellent reason to return the following year. It is what the drivers, amateurs and professionals alike call "the Dakar virus".
Now in it's 27th year, the Dakar rally has been denounced by the Vatican as "a vulgar display of power and wealth," drawn the ire and fire of terrorists, stranded European royality and thrill-seeking riffraff in the Sahara, cost hundreds of millions in damages, and claimed the lives of many, many people. Likened to "blood sport from a science fiction novel," it has been judged the world's most dangerous legally sanctioned sporting event.Seventeen years ago Sports Illustrated decreed that with "any luck, or common sense," it would never happen again, yet it did, and has every year since.
On the 2005 bivouac…
• 464 vehicles registered for the race,
• 224 assistance vehicles,
• 1,463 registered persons,
• An international line-up: 39 nationalities at the start,
• A race whose turnover in participants is constantly renewed: 30% of newcomers,
• An intermixing of generations:,
18-29 yrs : 7,3% 30-39 yrs : 33,5%
40-49 yrs : 43,3% 50-65 yrs : 14,6%
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At the start |
At the finish |
Race Vehicles
Motorbikes (including 1 side-car and 6 quads)
Cars
Trucks
Assistance Vehicles
Press & TV Vehicles |
464
230
165
69
224
34 |
215
104
75
36
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- |
THE ROUTE
Click here for the route in depth
Portugal
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Discovering, as a starter
The first hours of the rally will be devoted to discovery. Whereas the Dakar has not explored any «unknown territory» since its 2000 edition, Portugal will, this year, become the 24th country it crosses. Since its geographical position makes it a choice bridge between Europe and Africa, Portugal is a natural host for the Dakar. The enthusiasm shown by the representatives of the city of Lisbon and the appetite of its inhabitants for sporting events, as shown during the recent football European Cup, promise to keep everyone on their toes during the days of administrative checks and scrutineering.
MOROCCO - MAURITANIA - Myriad Sands
An ideal transitional stage to gradually feel the African temperature, Morocco provides competitors with all the types of terrain they will have to confront throughout the rest of the rally. Exploring the potential of the Moroccan desert a little more in detail, the scheduled specials will already demand qualities of endurance from teams. Crossing obstacles will be the order of the day when going through into Mauritania, more directly this time round. Here, changes in this year's regulations should enable leading amateurs to “badger” the professionals, if they get their navigation act together.
MALI - GUINEA - SENEGAL - Tropical Colours
For competitors, entering Black Africa combines both the pleasures of driving or riding and those of encountering local populations. Linked to that, on the road or in the bivouac, the general atmosphere changes along with the terrains which have to be met. Although the sands are behind them, participants have to come to terms with navigational difficulties due to numerous changes in direction. Guinea, which the Dakar will be revisiting for the first time since 1996, will add varied landscape backdrops with a dense vegetation and numerous fords to be crossed.
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DAKAR - In the name of Teranga
Associated with the notion of accomplishment for most competitors, on each arrival the Senegalese capital gives a vibrant illustration of Teranga, the conception of hospitality shared by the whole country. Even if not decisive for overall classification, the final stage of Lac Rose is shot with prestige for its winner and perpetuates the tradition of Teranga.
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