Europe Central Rally 2008 : Central Europe Rally

19-04-2008 - A family reunion on the banks of the Danube

It was as if there was a scent of Lisbon in the streets of Budapest and especially around the Heroes’ Square where the scrutineering enclosure is situated for this first Central Europe Rally. For all the competitors, the first day of this event, dedicated as is customary to administrative and technical verifications, was first and foremost a much awaited opportunity to get back together with the extended rally-raid family that was abruptly separated on the eve of the Dakar 2008. Already deprived of the dessert, the competitors were also and perhaps especially missing the “atmosphere of the Dakar”, this indescribable alchemy of anecdotes told a thousand times at the bivouac, laughter, last minute emergency repairs and reunions between old racing rivals. So, it was with a glint in the eye and visible pleasure that the professionals and amateurs came back together this Saturday on the banks of the Danube, as if to carry on the discussions halted at the verifications for the Dakar last January. However, this day of checks was also, perhaps first and foremost, the opportunity for everyone to get a better grasp of Central Europe’s passion for motor-sports. The least we can say is that the Hungarians’ enthusiasm was worthy of the event. Braving the morning rain, the inhabitants of Budapest rushed in their thousands to watch the spectacle of the verifications and rub shoulders for a short while with the competitors and their machines. With the verifications complete, a caravan of 238 vehicles, including 96 motorbikes, 18 quads, 84 cars and 40 trucks, will set off tomorrow from the Heroes’ Square for the first stage which will take the competitors into Romania, and more precisely to Baia Mare in the Carpathian Mountains.

19-04-2008 - Luc Alphand – MITSUBISHI – N° 202

“I believe that everyone left Lisbon disappointed and frustrated, so we’re really happy to see each other again here in Hungary and Romania, to get back behind the wheel after almost a 5-month break and to take part in a different type of race that’s shorter and more suited to WRC where the gaps aren’t in minutes but in seconds. It’s going to be an almighty battle, because all the favourites are here, with all the factory teams, but also Robby Gordon and many others, so it’s going to be interesting in sporting terms. As far as we’re concerned, we aren’t really WRC specialists so Carlos Sainz might have a small advantage over us. Mind you, we came here to win and we’ll try our best to do so. It’s very likely that we will have to push ourselves just that bit further in terms of driving. Personally, I’m a little bit stressed because it’s not really my speciality: there are no wide open spaces. It’s driving in a pure sense, but we have to be able to accept new challenges and adapt to them as best as possible. It’s also a chance to discover a new country that I didn’t know before: we’ll be going through the Carpathian Mountains, which is a mythical and fabulous region. There might be bears, some of the roads may need to be cleared by snow ploughs, lots of things like that
 So, there you have it, these are different countries but they are worth discovering”.

19-04-2008 - Stephane Peterhansel – MITSUBISHI- N° 200

“We’ve been kicking our heels waiting to race for a while now, so we’re over the moon to meet up with the rest of the Dakar’s participants. What’s more, it’s a new adventure: we’re discovering a new country and a new type of race with specials that we will have to cover several times. That means it’s going to be rather strange. We’ll see what happens. Perhaps we aren’t the best equipped to win on this specific type of terrain, but in any case we are going to fight as hard as we can and make sure we have a chance, bearing in mind that our cars are mainly designed for speed in wide open spaces. However, we’ll have to try and adapt. We’ve done a 100-km trial on tracks similar to what we are likely to come across here. We’ve modified the car accordingly, but in any case, the terrain will vary a lot from one day to another, so it’s a real leap into the unknown and we’ll probably have to keep making adjustments at the end of each day. The drivers will have to adapt to the terrain as well and drive more aggressively because the gaps will be much smaller than on 500-km long special stages. So, we’ll have to stay fully focused from start to finish”.

19-04-2008 - Bruno Saby – BMW – N°211

“Too often people tend to think that rally-raids should take place in the African dunes. In the beginning, this discipline sought to be different from other motor-sports, since it was based on adventure, improvisation and discovery. With this new race, I think we’re heading in the right direction. A.S.O. had a good idea when they chose to stage a rally in regions where we weren’t used to going, but there’s a real sense of anticipation here. It’s also what we were looking for, to discover new terrains and new countries. I’m already convinced that this first race here has a rosy future. Of course, the specials will be more like sprints than marathons, but still in the rally-raid spirit, with no reconnaissance, limited navigation and a fair few surprises since we don’t know what the terrain has in store for us. What’s sure is that with these cars which don’t handle as well as WRCs, it will be very tricky. But everyone is in the same boat! There’s a real mystery element, and that’s what makes this discipline and this first Central Europe Rally so appealing”.

19-04-2008 - Carlos Sainz – VW – N° 201

“After what happened in January, it’s good to be able to get back to competing, in a new race and on a new terrain. I’m really happy to be with the team again and I can’t wait to get back in the car. Of course, we don’t really know what type of terrain or conditions awaits us. However, the 7 km that I drove last week during the trials were extremely tough and I hope it isn’t going to be like that throughout the rally, otherwise I’m going to have a very sore neck and back. We’ll see what happens, but one sure thing is that the terrain will be very similar to how it is in the Baja rallies, like the Transiberico or Baja Espana, although the competition is much tougher, which means that the race for overall victory is going to be very closely fought”.

19-04-2008 - Marc Coma – KTM – N° 2

“It was important for the Dakar family to come back together here after the event was cancelled in January, to meet up and race. Even though this is going to be a difficult race because this is the first time we’re here, it’s going to be a surprise for everyone, in terms of the terrain, the capabilities and the machines, which are more and more competitive each year. So, I think that in these conditions, we’ll have to wait two or three specials to get a genuine idea of the race’s hierarchy. As far as I’m concerned, to prepare myself for the terrain, I took part in an endurance race in Spain to get back a bit of speed and competitiveness on the bike, which will be vital in this Central Europe Rally. Mind you, it’s difficult to predict who will be the overall winner since we’re all discovering this race and the new conditions at the same time. Of course, I’m going to do my utmost to win, but it’s going to be one hell of a battle!”

19-04-2008 - Cyril Despres – KTM – N° 1

“It’s really great to be here! And it’s now that we realise we’ve been missing something since the beginning of the year – more than the race or the media event, everyone has missed meeting up again. It’s true that spending 15 days in Africa in conditions that are sometimes a little difficult fosters strong links between people, but this year, due to the circumstances, they became a bit undone. So it feels good to get back together here in Central Europe. As regards the race, with KTM we’re still focused on rally-raid type races and it’s true that this a bit off the beaten track for us. But the organisers wanted to offer something different to a typical rally terrain, something more like the Baja. This means we’ve had to focus our preparation on short distances especially, to look for a bit more competitiveness on the bike. Instead of 15 marathon stages like in the Dakar, this time we will be doing 11 sprints, and we’ll have to adapt to that. It’s a bit of a venture into the unknown, but it’s good to try something new after several years’ experience. In any case, it’s really great that A.S.O. rebounded so quickly and worked so hard to set up this event. It’s good for everyone: drivers, mechanics, all the teams and our sport in general. I reckon everyone can’t wait to get stuck in, and even if it’s a terrain that we aren’t used to, we’ll try and hit the ground running because, when you look at the length of the specials, the gaps between the riders will only be a few seconds or minutes, depending on the stages, but no more than that. I can tell you already, it’s going to be close!”

18-04-2008 - A unique field for a promising premiere!

Inaugural event of the ‘’Dakar Series’’, a concept launched by A.S.O. in 2008 with the vocation to regroup under a same label several off-road rallies offering the same high standards in terms of participation, organisation and security as the Dakar, the Central Europe Rally will take off for its first edition on the 20th of April in Budapest, Hungary. Seven stages are planned via Baia Mare in Romania, and will take the 260 registered competitors (110 bikes, 19 quads, 91 cars and 40 trucks) to the shores of the Balaton Lake where the finish will take place on the 26th of April. A total of 2713 km, including 1092 timed kilometres will be covered on 11 specials.

Concerning the course, the terrain of this Grande Premiere in central Europe should be similar to the one witnessed during the first stages of the Dakar, in other words, rocky, abrupt and wavy in Hungary and then faster with some forest passages and maybe some snow in Romania. It’ll anyhow be comparable to the tracks used during the World Rally Championship. While navigation will not have the same importance than in the desert areas, the slightest mistake could be costly with gaps being extremely slim on rather short specials.

In these conditions, in the car class, the advantage will be logically given to the former WRC drivers, starting with the likes of Spaniard Carlos Sainz, World Rally champion in 1990 and 1992 who will be competing on the Central Europe Rally in one of the four Volkswagen Touareg registered by the Wolfsburg manufacturer. Against the VW armada, a new opus of the classic off-road battle with Mitsubishi should take place. With also four vehicles registered, including for the first time a diesel car, the Japanese brand will be counting on their huge experience of off-road events and that of their drivers, especially their leader, Stéphane Peterhansel and his 9 Dakar victories.

However, the outsiders will be numerous, starting with the BMW team led by Frenchman Bruno Saby and Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah, 2006 World Rally champion in the production class. But also, Robby Gordon and his Hummer, the first American to win a stage in the greatest African Classic.

The show will also be mouth-watering in the bike race with the army of official KTMs at its best and especially the presence of the last two winners of the Dakar, Frenchman Cyril DesprĂšs and Spaniard Marc Coma. Will also be present some of the best off-road specialists such as France’s David Casteu and David FrĂ©tignĂ©, Norway’s Pal-Anders Ullevalseter or Portuguese bikers Helder Rodrigues and Ruben Faria

For the first time, the quad bikers will be competing in their own class.

Finally, concerning the truck race, Dutchman Hans Stacey, last winner of the Dakar will be the man to beat and will have to keep an eye out on Czech Republic’s Ales Loprais rather at ease on the type of terrain used by the Central Europe Rally. One shouldn’t forget Brazil’s Andre de Azevedo, always very fast when it comes to technical tracks.

This first edition promises to be a fantastic show in each of the different classes thanks to the presence of the best possible field of off-road champions, united for the only time of the year in one same event: the Central Europe Rally!

09-04-2008 - Snow in Romania : change of the route

The organizers had to change the route of the Romanian part of the Central Europe Rally (April 20 – 26) because of the snow in the region of Sovata.

After spending a lot of time and energy trying to clean the “roads” from the snow, A.S.O. decided to cancel the stages scheduled around Sovata for security reasons. Indeed, the timing for the recos in order to make a very complete road book was to short because of the important quantity of snow that prevent the sporting team to work on the route.

The Central Europe Rally will take place around Baia Mare in Romania. The competitors will arrive on Sunday 20th April afternoon, compete in four “special stages” on Monday and Tuesday and then follow their course back to Hungary.

The assistance park will be on the Bvd Unirii in Baia Mare.

07-03-2008 - First edition: an already coveted title

An unprecedented format for a rally-raid, in the heart of two countries raiders have rarely visited: the idea has already won over the regulars of the sport, including a large portion that has redirected its energy toward a new objective. Less than a month after entries began to be accepted, the Central Europe Rally, which will be run in Hungary and Romania between April 20-26, is shaping up to be a must do event for the competitors, because some 110 motorcycles, 70 cars and 37 trucks have entered to date.

The Central Europe Rally is preparing for a large number of competitors. This first edition of the event will also welcome a who’s who in all-terrain competition. Among the regular top runners on the Dakar, the entry forms of Bruno Saby, Guerlain Chicherit and Nasser Al Attiyah for the BMW X-Raid team, Jean-Louis Schlesser and his blue buggy, as well as Robby Gordon with his always impressive Hummer, have already been received.

In all probability, the duel opposing Mitsubishi, with Peterhansel, Alphand and Roma, against Volkswagen, with Sainz and De Villiers, should be yet another episode in the ongoing battle between the two constructors on the tracks of Central Europe. The battle for the first ever win of the REC should also be a fantastic race for the motorcycles, because Cyril Despres, Marc Coma, David Casteu, without forgetting Francisco Lopez or David Frétigné, will also be on hand in Budapest. With such a strong field, led by defending Dakar winner, Hans Stacey, the race to be the first to write his name in the record books in the truck category will too be hotly contested.

The awaited reunion of these rally-raid champions constitutes a significant media event with the airing of specific programmes in more than 130 countries all over the world, via France Television, as well as networks Eurosport, Supersport in South Africa and Fox Sport International in South America.

11-02-2008 - Central Europe Rally: it’s open

The first registration session has started on the 11th of February with the opening to applications during a month for the competitors registered for the 2008 Dakar. Hit by the cancellation of the rally on the 1st of January, they will benefit from a priority subscription and won’t have to pay the engagement fee (except for the file fee of 300 €) until the 1st of March. According to the number of available places left in the different classes, it will be at that date that all the other bikers and crews will be able to send their registration files for the first edition of the Central Europe Rally.

04-02-2008 - The Central Europe Rally : First rally of the A.S.O. «Dakar Series »

Budapest (HUNGARY) - Amaury Sport Organisation announces the creation of the Central Europe Rally. This new rally organised under the « Dakar Series » certification will take place from April 20th to the 26th in Hungary and Romania. Scrutineering and administrative checks will take place on 19th of April in Budapest.

The Central Europe Rally, between Budapest and Lake Balaton in Hungary, crossing Romania, will consist of an extremely varied and technical route. Nearly half of the total distance, 3000kms, will be run in special stages. The opening of entries is planned on 11th of February. A.S.O has already received the support of all the major teams. BMW, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Schlesser and KTM have already shown a great interest for this new event, image of the development that A.S.O. wishes to bring to the sport.

The Central Europe Rally will be the first event to be run under the “Dakar Series” certification. This certification will be given to other races that offer the same high organisation and safety standards, strong participation and media attention as the legendary Dakar. With the Central Europe Rally (*), the aim of A.S.O. is to enable the competitors of the Dakar, which was cancelled on 2008, to enter a new rally with some extremely advantageous conditions and offer their sponsors exposure in a major international event.

The “Dakar Series”, which was planned to start in 2009, is a project that A.S.O. has been working on for a long time. It will begin one year ahead of schedule. This first Central Europe Rally is a milestone of a series of new events intended to expand besides the Dakar Rally. The 2009 Dakar edition will be announced in the weeks to come.

(*) Due to terrorist threats, the 2008 Dakar edition was cancelled. Unfortunately last Friday a new terrorist attack happened again in Nouakchott (Mauritania)