Dakar 2011 : Dakar

28-12-2010 - RACE AUTOS: TO PROVE THE SAINZ METHOD

Unbeaten in the sport since the 2010 Dakar, Carlos Sainz comes into the 2011 edition with wisdom as well as a technical dexterity that have been established for a long time now. But the title defence will require the Spaniard to control a number of contenders, both in and out of his own team.  

The conjunction of parameters needed to for winning the Dakar prohibit overly confident prognostications. Even Carlos Sainz had to pay his dues. The two-time world rally champion had to first complete his learning phase of driving in the dunes and he made his share of first-timer mistakes before adapting his pace to an endurance event, then he had to team up with a suitable co-driver, Lucas Cruz, before finding the path to success. In all it took ‘El matador’ four editions and 17 stage wins before he won his maiden Dakar. And it was at the conclusion of an exercise in keeping a cool head because he had to contend with his team mate, the rambunctious Nasser Al-Attiyah, who finished a mere 2’38” adrift in the overall classification. In the Volkswagen camp, it seems that the Qatari is ready to give it his all to march on to the final step of the podium. Also runner-up on the Silk Way Rally, but at the wheel of the prior generation Race Touareg, Al-Attiyah will this time be at the controls of the same car as Sainz. In this VW duel, team mates Mark Miller and Giniel De Villiers have no intentions of playing the role of spectators. The 2009 winner demonstrated in Russia that he had rediscovered his form, before crashing out of the rally. 

While the German entries are favourites for the win, Robby Gordon, who finished on the podium in 2009 and who won’t be satisfied until he wins, can’t be overlooked. His latest generation Hummer is now four-wheel drive. The second car in his team will be driven by former Formula One driver, Eliseo Salazar from Chile. Further down the list of entries are a number of candidates, who don’t necessarily have enough to battle for the top three, but who have their sights set on a top ten result. One such entry is Christian Lavielle with his Dessoude-Prototype, as are Matthias Kahle and Benat Errandonea in the Philippe Gache prepared buggies. And finally, the opening stages will also offer a chance to Joan “Nani” Roma, who was brought in at the last minute to be the lead driver in Team Overdrive.

27-12-2010 - Navigation: it will be tight

A change in regulations towards the WPM system will change the lives of the co-drivers, who will see their role become more important on the 2011 Dakar. Lucas Cruz, who has already had the chance to test the new rules and with success, on the Silk Way Rally with Carlos Sainz explains what the stakes are of this reform.

In the road-book that is their daily bible, both driver and co-driver must try to follow in minute detail the indications in the notes in order to find all the (WPM) passage points along the stage, under threat of penalty. When nearing a WPM point, the competitors have up until now been guided by their navigation systems to pass within three kilometres of a point. Now, their GPS will only active at 800 metres from the target, which will force the co-drivers to spend far more time concentrating on each WPM. This added effort greatly changes the work of the co-drivers, as Carlos Sainz’s team mate Lucas Cruz explains. “This regulation adds more importance to navigation, for sure. And for the co-drivers, it is very stress! The hard part is that we can no longer anticipate as to what will be in the following road-book notes to find the next passage point. You must first make sure the WPM is validated and then carry on very quickly.” 

The more demanding WPM regulations will be particularly challenging in the dunes, where there are fewer reference points. “When it is 100% off road it is possible to make mistakes that can send you in the wrong direction for several kilometres. On the other hand, when there are tracks and intersections, we know quite easily if we are heading in the right direction” concludes Cruz, who is sure he has mastered the system. For many of the others that follow behind the job will be a lot harder than before.

25-12-2010 - MOTORCYCLE RACE: COMA AND DESPRES, IN FINE COMPANY

For the first time on the Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile the title will go to a 450cc rider. While KTM’s Marc Coma and Cyril Despres are the odds on favorites, the rally has never been as open as 2011, with seven constructors capable of a podium finish. 

With the change to a smaller engine capacity for all the elite riders, the list of contenders for the win as well as the bikes capable of going all the way has increased considerably from last year’s rally. Questions can even be posed if this is the end of an era in which KTM has won the last nine Dakars. The Austrian company will face much stiffer competition in 2011, but it has retained serious arguments to validate its re-conversion. The technical know-how acquired over the years has allowed the KTM engineers and mechanics to roll out a competitive 450cc for its first major race. Even more importantly, KTM has retained the two superstars of the sport, Marc Coma and Cyril Despres, who have combined to win the last five editions. The pure riding skills, management of physical effort and race tactics will no doubt result in another duel between the Catalan and the Andorran. In their only confrontation since the Dakar with the new 450 on the Morocco Rally it was Despres getting the upper hand. 

But the regular outsiders could transform into real contenders for the title beginning with a third KTM rider, Pal-Anders Ullevalseter, who rode under the radar to finish second last year. As for the competition, Aprilia made a tremendous debut in 2010, with Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez finishing third. If the Chilean, who went on to win the Rally of Tunisia, continues to progress, he will pose a real threat to Coma and Despres. The Italian company has another capable candidate in Alain Duclos who finished 6th last year. Among KTM’s rivals, Yamaha has been racing the 450cc for the longest time and brings a new and more complete bike for 2011. The fruits of this investment could be reaped by Helder Rodrigues (4th in 2020), but also Jonah Street (7th) and Jordi Viladoms, who have both been recruited by the Japanese firm, where they join Olivier Pain (9th).

The 450cc challenge is just as important for David Casteu, who is associated with the Sherco Team, and who won the opening special stage on the 2010 Dakar, but then retired two days later with a seriously injured thigh. After that the native of Nice went on to win his category in the Rally-Raid World Cup. Already present with Frans Verhoeven; BMW raised its ambition with the recruitment of David Frétigne. While the Frenchman has been forced to withdrawal due to injury, the team has brought in Brazilian Zé Hello (12th in 2009). Honda’s lead rider is American baja specialist, Quinn Cody who makes his Dakar debut. For the honorary title of fastest rookie, Ivan Boano on a Beta will be one rider not to overlook.

23-12-2010 - The vehicles have arrived

The Grande Brasile left the port of Le Havre on December 3rd and arrived at Delta Rock, where the European vehicles participating in the Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile where unloaded during the night.

On the seas like in the desert, navigation can encounter hazards. The Grande Brasile’s cargo, containing 550 rally vehicles (competition, assistance, media, organisation, etc…) arrived a day later than scheduled at Delta Rock. The delay allowed the ship’s 19 member welcoming committee to receive this un-common delivery that will reach its final destination this afternoon in Argentina. With the help of the crew members and local dockworkers, the rally teams spent most of the night unloading their vehicles, which were then taken to the parc ferme. Overlooked by local police and by the port authorities, they will be returned to their owners starting on December 28th. While scrutineering and administrative verifications for the South American participants begins on December 29, the European competitors and crews will go through the process on December 30th and 31st. This minor delay will allow for some final adjustments prior to the start of the rally.

23-12-2010 - Marcos Patronelli: "60 - 70 % chances of being at the start"

The defending quad champion, seriously injured in late November, hasn’t withdrawn from the 2011 Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile. Now ten days prior to the start, he is in a race against the clock in which he hopes to win.

"I still cannot put my foot on the ground, but I work out everyday in a rehab center”. Marcos Patronelli, who broke both fibulas during testing, has obviously not given up. His mental fortitude of a champion allowed him to become the first South American to win Dakar in 2010. He is counting on this same determination to get him to the start line of the 2011 edition. "I am extremely motivated. I have ten days left, which could be enough time. I give myself a 60-70% chance of being at the start". After a very quick convalescence, the latest idol in the Argentina press has had to lower his objectives. "I won’t be able to compete for the win, but I will try to take it easy alongside my brother Alejandro", concluded Marcos. 

22-12-2010 - The seven soloists

In 2010, the baptism of single place buggies imagined by the late Colin McRae turned into a nightmare: 7 at the start, 2 at the finish! For 2011, the Pro-Dakar team went in search of reliability for a machine that proved its performance level. In hoping to allow its two drivers, Holland’s Tim Coronel and former Formula One driver, Argentina’s Norberto Fontana, to put in a few strong showings.
 
"Last year, the car wasn’t ready and just finishing each stage was a challenge in itself", confides Tim Coronel. “I had never experienced an adventure like it, very difficult but also quite enjoyable. Everyone thought we were crazy to set off alone, but upon our return home we were treated like heroes because the Dutch like fighters! We have done a lot of work to the buggy to adapt it to the difficulties of the Dakar: 86 things were changed, and then validated during testing in Morocco. Of course, our goal is reasonable: the top 30 overall."

The 2011 buggy is a complete departure from its predecessor: new shocks, new clutch, a new auto-blocking differential for the dunes and new engine mapping for the 140 brake horsepower three-cylinder engine taken from a snowmobile. With the changes made the buggy is now lighter, has a better center of gravity and has drastically improved fuel consumption at 6-litres per 100kms!

Pro-Dakar has entered seven drivers and is counting most on the experienced Tim Coronel, to develop the buggy, but also a few « stars » from Argentinean circuit racing; most notably Norberto Fontana, who competed in four Formula One Grands prix in 1997 and the Spanish adventurer Albert Busch….everyone shares the same goal: take on the constant challenge of associating driving and navigating; a tall order yet essential to score a result. 

21-12-2010 - The Dakar 2.0

The Dakar 2.0

Beginning with the technical and administrative verifications, web surfers are invited to discover the new dakar.com site. Readers can stay informed throughout the entirety of the Personal Dakar Argentina - Chile, as well the mobile applications and the official social network of the race. The details of the programme…

The rendez-vous on dakar.com

When the first motorcycles set off on the day’s stage, a stream of information will be opened with detailed live coverage of the key moments of the race. An accident that changes the hierarchy, a slight navigation error that catches out several favourites….internet users can closely follow the changes taking place in the stage and for the first time can have a look at photographs transmitted on site. At the same time, thanks to the Iritrack technology, everyone can keep abreast of the position of their favourites and can have a look at the virtual standings established at the intermediate timing points. From the arrival of the first competitors, audio interviews, accompanied by photos, will be published to know the first reactions from the principle actors of the stage. 

The Dakar in your pocket!

Using the content available on Dakar.com, an application has been developed for the Android, Blackberry and iPhone mobile phones. It allows mobile users to follow the race at all times. In Argentina and Paraguay, mobile operator and title sponsor of the rally, Personal proposes an exclusive application for all its subscribers. 

… the race continues on Facebook and Twitter
There are more and more Dakar fans coming together on the official Facebook page. During the event, they will be able to find video clips created from the bivouac, photo galleries, on board camera footage, interviews, etc… The live news feed will be available on Twitter and spectators who want to watch from the side of the tracks will be informed as to where the “public” zones are where they can view the action in total safety. 

Virtual Rally Game

More than 150,000 game players tried the discipline last year. For the 2011 edition, the official on-line game allows users to measure their skills on the rally route. Like the competitors in action, they will be able to adjust navigation, the driving attack level, tyre pressures, etc…

20-12-2010 - Changes for Coma…

After receiving a six-hour penalty and being knocked out of contention in 2010, Spain’s Marc Coma spent a portion of his year searching for an ideal solution for a victorious return.

Getting back to basics was on level par with the deception experienced at the end of the 2010 Dakar, which concluded with a 15th place result, the worst finish in his career, excluding retirements. Marc Coma will line up for the start in Buenos Aires with one objective, victory. But the system he will use has been re-thought. While the rules have been changed with all the elite riders, now riding 450cc bikes, the more important change for the Catalan concerns his entourage. Gone is Jordi Arcarons, who had been alongside Coma since the debut of his career. This year, former team mate, Giovanni Sala, still quite active behind the scenes at KTM will determine race strategy. The Italian, winner of nine stages and third overall on the 2006 Dakar was enthralled by Coma’s proposition. “He called me to ask what I was doing in January. I wasn’t expecting it but naturally I accepted straight away. I have never occupied this role in a team before but it is very motivating and I want to do the best job I can.” 

While he ventured to Italy to seek out help, the two-time Dakar champion also respected tradition and turned to the ever improving valour in Catalonia. Coma signed Juan Pedrero to a three-year contract, who will begin in the role of rapid assistance. 49th in his maiden Dakar in 2009, then 10th last year, Pedrero clearly has the necessary talent to follow his leader and lend a hand if needed. “Having finished my first two Dakars as well as my mechanic capabilities convinced him that I could provide strong support. I have proven he can trust me". The riders in this quest to get back on the winning track seem ready to get back into action. “Everything has been decided to go for the win”, concludes Coma.

17-12-2010 - After the effort …

After having to go it alone in the stages, the competitors of the Personal Dakar Argentina Chile will be greeted in the best of conditions upon their arrival at the bivouac. In addition to what the organisation provides, the rally partners also try to make their daily routine more agreeable at the Dakar Service Center.

When a competitor ends his day of racing he has two major preoccupations: eating and looking after his machine. After having a meal, those who do not have the luxury of a service team head towards the Dakar Service Center. They usually find solutions to their problems, thanks to many a lending hand from the partners of the rally. In the moto-trunk zone, several people are present to advise and help the riders, who are often the most fatigued after the stage. Those entered in the Elf Trophy receive oil and lubricants, which helps to lower the maintenance costs of their bike. Similarly, the BF Goodrich truck offers free tyre mounting and dismounting to also help out the competitors, who take advantage of the service every night. Nearly 3000 tyre changes were made last year by the 11 technicians on location. Next door, Loctite, which performs minor miracles thanks to resins and other adhesives they use, is also at the ready. Riders come to see them with bikes in disarray, which leave in working order after they’ve been gone through by these fairing specialists. 

Quite often the stages are not that stressful for the pilots and teams, but they still have a need to relax. This is where Personal takes over with an area dedicated to getting a respite. An internet connection, for example, allows the competitors to up load news and information onto their web sites. Other can catch a breather in a hammock, or simply have a look at photos of the day’s winners on the daily recap. The Dakar Service Center also has four physiotherapists available at the Banco Marco area for much needed massages. As for restoring energy, everyone also needs to re-hydrate and they can choose between the Red Bull area, the Fernet Branca bar and the Agua Palau bar.

16-12-2010 - TRUCK RACE: WHO CAN BEAT “BIG BLUE” ?

Vladimir Chagin placed the bar very high: winner of his sixth Dakar in 2010, he also won 9 of 13 special stages, taking his career total to 56. Meanwhile, his team mates made sure Kamaz ran the table in setting best time on the rest of the timed sectors. Once again, the odds on favourite in the Personal Dakar Argentina Chile, the Russian will have to defend his title against an array of stout competitors. 

Following a serious testing crash at the Clermont-Ferrand training centre the number 500 truck had to be rushed back to Naberezhnye Chelny (Republic of Tatarstan, Russia) before being air freighted to Argentina, instead of a leisurely crossing of the Atlantic by ship. Despite it all, Vladimir Chagin is still the man to beat in the truck category. And the idea of a seventh title, which would see him to the top of the all-time win list is something the “Tsar of all deserts”, would very much like to accomplish. But in the Kamaz team, the statutes have evolved through circumstances. The second driver in the team, Firadus Kabirov has, on two occasions, shown to be enough of an opportunist to save the team’s honour (2005 and 2009). Now, everyone knows of the “Junior Tsar’s” talent, capable of changing the hierarchy in the big blue truck squad. Promising 26-year old Edouard Nikolaev, who sat next to Chagin last year, has completed his apprenticeship: in September he won the Silk Way Rally and will now drive his own truck for the first time on the Dakar. 

But the Kamaz domination shouldn’t over shadow the competition, which is well decided to fight back. The return of Gerard De Rooy, who has been sidelined due to injuries suffered on the 2009 Silk Way, will be the decisive parameter in the category. The Dutchman is chomping at the bit to take on and defeat the Russian contingent. The son of Jan De Rooy has had time to train Spain’s Pep Vila in the Dutch mode. The third Iveco in the team will be driven by Hugo Duisters. 

No less ambitious, Czech driver Alés Loprais continues his quest and sees himself as the defender of uncle Karel’s record, who is tied with Chagin for most wins. The Tatra driver has brought in Josef Kalina, who sat alongside Karel during his historic run of victories in the 1990’s, as the third man in the cabin. Podium spots are also in the sights of those drivers who haven’t been front runners as much, but who are capable of strong performances. One example is Marcel Van Vliet (MAN), third in 2010 or Wulfert Van Ginkel (GINAF) and to a lesser extent the Sugawara family, who will be back in 2011 with two Hino trucks.

14-12-2010 - Califano: «There is more than Rugby for maturing in life»

The switch to an automobile has been postponed for former international rugby man Christian Califano, who will return to the Personal Argentina Chile Dakar on a motorcycle with his friends in the KTM Red Bull Team, which includes defending champion Cyril Despres. 

Exhausted but exhilarated. Last January, Christian Califano finished the Dakar for the first time after dropping out due to injury the previous year. At the end of his adventure, Califano’s last place finish was as good as a victory. And on this day, his good friend Despres, who welcomed into his team, won his third Dakar and his rapid assistance rider, Ruben Faria won the final stage of the rally. “As we rode back towards Buenos Aires, we were all like kids. It is one of my fondest memories and I was overwhelmed with what I saw”, remembers the native of Toulon, who had just accomplished the most difficult challenge of his life.

The end of his motorcycle career was supposed to correspond with this achievement, but it has now gone into extra time. “It is Cyril’s fault; he has teased me into coming back. I am exaggerating only a little, because I lived a real team experience with these guys. Each day, for example, they prepared a personalized briefing for what I was supposed to do on the stage. I was touched that they took such good car of me”. While a part of the human adventure is to have a good time with his fellow riders, the rally route also corresponds to a personal quest for “Cali”, who believes that “the Dakar changed my life! There is more than rugby for maturing in life”. It is now with humility that he rates his chances of finishing the Dakar for a second time. “I will not rely on luck, but I will have the means.”

09-12-2010 - QUADS: THE SUCCESSION IS OPEN

With 32 quads in the Personal Dakar Argentina Chile, the category has set a new record in terms of entries. The forfeit of Marcos Patronelli, injured in training, leaves a wide open path for several contenders. 

Mowed down in full flight! Since the 2010Dakar, Marcos Patronelli was on cloud nine. After winning three stages, and running away from the all his rivals, the winner in the quad category was given a hero’s welcome in Buenos Aires. He became the first Argentinean to write in his name in the Dakar record book. The fairy tail story made headlines throughout the country. And when he returned to competition, Marcos won again, this time in Africa on the Pharaohs Rally. However, the odds on favourite for the 2011 edition is not untouchable: during a training ride in late November, the younger of the Patronelli brothers somersaulted at 90km/h, injuring both ankles and shoulder. Five to six weeks of healing are needed. While he hasn’t officially informed the organisers of his withdrawal, it will take nothing less than a miracle for the defending champion to line up for the start on January 1st.

Now all eyes turn to older brother Alejandro and 2nd in the 2010 Dakar. After having though about not coming back he now prepared to defend the family honour. But it looks as if it will be a tall order with the path opening up for many rivals. Czech rider, Josef Machacek is a four-time winner in the category and won in South America in 2009 has an excellent chance of regaining his title. After dropping out on stage four in 2010, the leader of the discipline will have a pack of Argentineans and Chileans to deal with. He will also have to control his closest rivals. Within his team, Machacek trained fellow Czech Martin Plechaty as well as Poland’s Lukasz Laskawiec. Among the outsiders, it may be Rafal Sonik’s moment to shine. Since he burst on to the quad scene, he has systematically finished on the podium in 3rd place.

In the female category, world champion Camelia Liparoti will be racing alone. The Franco-Italian experienced the satisfaction of finishing the Dakar for the first time in 2010. She now has the challenge of moving up the hierarchy.

07-12-2010 - Chicherit in a Mini !

Team X-Raid has prepared a surprise for the 2011 Dakar: Guerlain Chicherit will have the responsibility of using a purpose built Mini for rally-raiding for the first time, which is based on the BMW X3 CC that his team mates will still compete with in Argentina and Chile. 

Guerlain Chicherit’s car missed the Le Havre rendezvous for the loading on to the ship headed to Buenos Aires. That mystery has now been solved with his team’s announcement of a new model: the Mini AII4Racing. While the project was first taken under consideration by Sven Quandt in 2009, the actual construction of the car at the Trebur race ship didn’t begin until November. This speed record set by the Mini doesn’t scare the team manager, who believes it will be competitive right out of the box. “It will have the same engine as the 2011 Dakar BMW X3 CC, which is to say that it will have added power (315bhp) compared to the version that finished fourth and fifth on the 2010 Dakar”, said Quandt.

Guerlain Chicherit, who will now team with Michel Périn, also believes in the potential of the little gem Team X-Raid has entrusted in him. “It is an unprecedented and extremely motivating project, I can hardly wait”, says the very enthusiastic Frenchman. For now, a test session has been scheduled for December 13 and 14 before the Mini All4Racing is air freighted to Buenos Aires, where the final adjustments will be made prior to scrutineering.

06-12-2010 - Faster than VW…

Whether it is the start line, the CPs or the finish, the organisation teams will be in place well before the champions, who also drive Volkswagens!

Team Volkswagen has been on the Dakar centre stage for the past several years and especially the last two with the victories of Giniel De Villiers and Carlos Sainz. The German carmaker is also very active behind the scenes as the official rally vehicle, providing the organisational vehicles to ensure logistics. The fleet, composed primarily of the Volkswagen Amarok, carries out countless missions to ensure the Dakar runs according to plan. Among the more important missions is the deployment of the CPs (check points placed in the special stage, where the competitors are obliged to pass). Teams in staggered deployment set off in 10 4X4s to get the job done.

Installation time deadlines are strict. Just like the for race teams, the distances are long, and sometimes the terrain can be quite challenging. That is why the organisation handed the Amarok in question over to a man who knows a thing or two about rally-raiding. Jean-Jacques Ratet has won the production class eight times from his 21 Dakar starts. “For me it is a good way to slowly bring my career to an end. In this job, we work on our own to arrive at our positions. The rhythm is, of course, easier than in the race, but the days are busy because the drives are long. For the most part, we use the roadways, but for us to take our position in a dune sector, we too have to drive on difficult tracks or go off-road. On the 8000kms route last year, the cars were put to a rude test on nearly 300kms. Up to now, I can say that the Amarok has been a very smooth and agreeable car to drive. And it goes everywhere and you don’t even have to deflate the tyres."

Amarok in action on Dakar 2010: watch the video

03-12-2010 - The Dakar on the seas

After taking possession of the vehicles of the European competitors last week, the Personal Dakar Argentina Chile teams proceeded with their loading. Today, the ship is headed towards Buenos Aires with the truck of defending champion, Vladimir Chagin…

At 180m long, 55m tall and 35m wide, the Grand Brasile has a standard load capacity of 3,500 cars. As it leaves Europe this time towards South America, “Ro Ro”, as it has become known as, is transporting a unique cargo. 550 Dakar Rally vehicles, including 195 service cars and trucks and 75 media and organisation vehicles. As for the race, of the 430 entered, 280 (122 motorcycles, 11 quads, 87 cars and 63 trucks) are on board. The majority of the loading was done on the Wednesday. For 13 hours, the Grand Brasile crew and Le Havre dock workers helped the 15 members of the rally organisation team, two of which are making the three-week voyage across the Atlantic to keep a close eye on the vehicles.

However, the Kamaz of Vladimir Chagin experienced a setback that forced the team into crisis management mode. During testing at Clermont-Ferrand; the number 500 truck was seriously damaged. The repairs required an emergency trip to the race shop in Naberezhnye Chelny in Tatarstan. Always the sportsman, Jan De Rooy immediately sent his transporter to Clermont-Ferrand to load up Chagin’s truck and take it to Russia. Ever since, the mechanics have worked night and day to get the Kamaz in running order for a rally in which it is the pre-event favourite for the win. At this late date, the team will air-freight the truck and equipment to Buenos Aires.

01-12-2010 - Roma finds a drive!

After announcing he wouldn’t be competing in the 2011 Personal Dakar Argentina Chile, Joan « Nani » Roma has accepted a drive with Team Overdrive, which will provide the Spaniard with a car capable of putting in a strong run.

Following a premature exit from the 2010 Dakar, Roma also lost his spot in the X-Raid Team between La Rioja and Fiamala. The rest of Roma’s year was spent in long negotiations in attempt to get a new and ambitious programme up and running, but the 2004 Dakar winner in the motorcycle category failed to tie up all the loose string and even announced his non-participation. In all the commotion, the Catalan received great news in a telephone call from the boss at Team Overdrive, Jean-Marc Fortin. As it turned out, Freddy Loix had a conflict of schedule and thus there was a vacancy in the Nissan Navara. The game of musical chairs worked in “Nani’s” favour and he immediately headed to Buenos Aires to seal the deal. “As it turned out their best car was available. Everything came together very quickly and with an opportunity like this I couldn’t pass up the ride with such a well organised team in which I know quite a few people. Several of the team members worked with me at Mitsubishi and X-Raid”, explained Roma on his website www.naniroma.com. In addition to the human aspect, Roma and co-driver Gilles Picard can also fell confident with the performance level of their vehicle. While the South American was less successful in 2010, the previous year, the two lead cars in Team Overdrive finished 4th and 5th with Tollefsen and Holowczyc.

30-11-2010 - An American star …

While never celebrating a Dakar victory, the United States has often done well in the motorcycle category on the world’s most prestigious rally-raid. There was Danny Laporte who finished runner-up to Stéphane Peterhansel in 1992. Then in 2003 Jimmy Lewis finished 3rd, winning three stages along the way. Other than Jonah Street, the man who could bring success to the stars and stripes is Quinn Cody, a newcomer who comes to the Dakar with some lofty ambitions. “The Dakar has been a goal for the past several years. It is THE ultimate challenge in terms of off-road racing. I‘ve watched the race for a very long time. I’ve been working on this project for the past two years. My goal is a top ten result but it would be fantastic to finish in the top five.” 

Above and beyond his determination, this California native has made a name for himself in American Baja racing and most notably on the prestigious Baja 1000, which he has won three times (2006, 2009 and 2010). Yet, the Honda rider knows that the Dakar must be taken on with humility and that more than anything else, he will have to demonstrate his capacity to adapt. “I know that I will have to be smart as well as patient during the first week. Back home in the United States, we go flat out from start to finish. I am physically ready and I have just finished a training session with Jimmy Lewis. The biggest difficulty will be navigation. I must be successful in remaining focused while riding. The other problem is that I will only get to learn about my Honda, which was prepared in Europe, when I arrive in Buenos Aires.” Quinn Cody’s Dakar will be full of new discoveries.

27-11-2010 - Le Havre, stage zero !

It is extremely rare on the Dakar, but there have been occasions were the opening stage was run in snow! This year, the competitors and teams loading their vehicles at Le Havre will be impatient as ever to return to the southern summer that awaits them in Argentina and Chile. For now, the bikes, cars and trucks have been entrusted to the rally organisers, who have the job of making the Atlantic crossing as comfortable as possible. Two days are needed to process everyone. 

Some 470 vehicles have passed this first important stage. Most of the contenders for the win did not make the trip to Normandy. Their vehicles and equipment will be transported by their teams. However, those willing to brave the cold could have run into rider David Casteu, who is also a team manager as he oversaw the registration of his assistance vehicles. 9th in the bike class in 2010, Olivier Pain also made the trip to the port city.

In the car category, Volkswagen has chosen to ship by air in order to continue to fine tune the odds on favourite Race Touareg 3s. At BMW X-Raid only 5 of the 7 cars expected turned up. There is still work needed to be done on the cars of Guerlain Chicherit and Orlando Terranova. In the truck division, the armada of 6 Kamaz entered made the long voyage from Russia without Chagin and Kabirov. But their most serious competitors, Ales Loprais and Gerard De Rooy, accompanied their trucks to the French coast. 

This year assistance vehicles were also invited to head to Le Havre for scrutineering in order to lighten the programme for the days just prior to the start in Buenos Aires. Some 150 cars and trucks also received the official stamp of approval, which will allow them to carry out their mission during the two weeks of racing in South America.

26-11-2010 - Casteu on the comeback trail

«Everyone will set off equal », said David Casteu, who is very pleased with the revolution taking place on the Dakar this year, with the mandatory move to 450ccs for all the elite riders in the motorcycle category. After suffering a thigh injury when he crashed out of the 2010 Dakar on stage five, the rider from Nice had time to reflect and prepare for his return to action during the three weeks he spent in hospital. During his team’s official presentation last week, the world all-terrain champion (450cc) revealed the details of his 2011 Dakar project. For the occasion, David Casteu was joined by Dakar deputy director, Frédéric Lequien as well as the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, who has decided to get involved with David. “The city of Nice has chosen to follow me for the first time, because it was aware of what we put into place last season”, remembers Casteu, who is also the leader of the race team built with the 100% French constructor Sherco. Beyond this “industrial” project, the amateur turned champion also had the idea to associate with a trade school: at the end of a competition, a mechanical student was able to take part in the Dakar to help with the team’s service. Since this experience, Alexandre Giorsetti has gone on to become the chief mechanic in David’s team and the programme has been extended to this year. For the 2011 Dakar, Casteu won’t be satisfied with just a stage victory.

25-11-2010 - The Portuguese at the start

Adventure flows through the blood of Portuguese riders, who met up at a Lisbon landmark before taking their vehicles to Le Havre where they are awaited this coming November 24th and 25th. The «Padrão dos Descobrimentos» or Monument to the Discoveries in English, which pays tribute to famous explorers of the Age of Discovery era, was the meeting point for a group of the Portuguese entered in the 2011 Dakar, who will try to do their nation proud in Argentina and Chile. Among them, Ricardo Leal Dos Santos has landed a spot in the BMW X-Raid team. Recruited in the squad to serve as rapid assistance for Stéphane Peterhansel and Guerlain Chicherit, Dos Santos has a real chance to finish in the top five, thanks to the X3 he will command. But Portugal’s best chance first ever top three result is in the motorcycle category. In last year’s Dakar, Helder Rodrigues finished one step off the podium in 4th place, just 10 minutes adrift from Francisco «Chaleco» Lopez. He will be the lead Yamaha rider on the Dakar.

The competitors and teams present at the pre-start:
Car
Francisco Inocêncio - Pedro Velosa (Red Line team)
Ricardo Leal dos Santos - Paulo Fiuza (BMW X-Raid)
Motorcycle
Pedro Bianchi (Speedbrain BMW Moto Team)
Paulo Gonçalves (Speedbrain BMW Moto Team)
Helder Rodrigues (Team Yamaha Racing France Ipone)

23-11-2010 - DAKAR 2011: VERSION CRESCENDO

This morning the organizers of the Personal Argentina Chile Dakar announced the details of the 2011 edition, the third in South America, which will be run from January 1st through the 16th.

This year the route takes the competitors to the extreme northern regions of Argentina and Chile, to the Bolivian and Peru borders, just until the rest day at Arica, before heading back towards Buenos Aires. The design of the route, consisting of 9000kms of roads, tracks and dunes, including nearly 5000 of competition, was done with the idea of saving the more difficult stages for the second half of the event to maintain maximum suspense and create a crescendo of difficulty. The competitors and teams are in for an extreme endurance challenge.

Veterans and novices are now ready for the adventure with 430 vehicles expected to line-up at the start of the 32nd edition of the Dakar, which is a near 20% increase from 2010. Beyond the numbers, another accomplishment has already been achieved with the finalisation of a plan to intensify the competition: the elite in the motorcycle division will compete on bikes with engine capacities inferior to 450ccs. This major change has sparked the interest of manufacturers who have entered strong line-ups in the battle for victory. KTM is back with Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, who have combined to win the last five Dakars, and now will race with equal power against Aprilia (Lopez, Duclos…), BMW (Frétigné, Verhoeven…),Yamaha (Viladoms, Rodrigues…), Sherco (Casteu), Honda (Bethys, Pisano…) as well as Beta (Boano). In the automobile category, the potential of Team BMW X-Raid, which will be led by Stéphane Peterhansel and Guerlain Chicherit, poses a more serious threat to Volkswagen. Defending Dakar champion, Carlos Sainz, knows very well that his competition is not just limited to inter team battle with Al Attiyah, De Villiers and Miller. Vladimir Chagin and his Kamaz team mates are the pre-rally favourites in the truck category, but for his return to competition, Gerard De Rooy (Iveco), has just as much ambition to go for the win as does Ales Loprais (Tatra).

Before heading into competition, the vehicles of the European competitors will first head to Le Havre on November 24th and 25th. From there they will cross the Atlantic and head to Buenos Aires. Technical and administrative verifications will be conducted on December 30th and 31st.

18-11-2010 - There’s no better coach than Despres

Last weekend, the South American competitors who made the trip to Buenos Aires
had the opportunity to receive advice on how to best take on the Dakar from
Cyril Despres. Upon returning home, the three-time winner of the motorcycle
division published a video detailing the physical conditioning he put in to
refine his preparation on his personal web site and Facebook page. In addition,
all the riders entered in the rally can now follow the exemplary lesson given by
the best rider of his generation.

Cyril Despres website : www.cyrildespres.com

17-11-2010 - Arcarons is back

While Jordi Arcarons has never won the Dakar, despite six top three results, he is second only to Stéphane Peterhansel in stage wins with 27. The Spaniard is back this year at the commands of a KTM, but his frame of mind has totally changed.

Arcarons last race appearance in 2002, resulted in a 7th place finish overall, after having complied one of the most impressive records in the sport. The missing element was a Dakar victory, which he finally attained by proxy with his successive protégés, which he oversaw for KTM. Nani Roma became the first Spanish rider to win the Dakar in 2004. Arcarons next transmitted his know how to Marc Coma who went on to win in 2006 and 2009. 

At the start in Buenos Aires, Jordi will climb aboard a new motorcycle with the goal of victory, but on a different note. This year, his protégé is a lady, Laia Sanz, who will try to win the female category. And Arcarons’ mission will be to accompany Laia and provide his extensive experience: “My job is to instruct. Laia has talked to me about competing on the Dakar since she was 16. When she was putting her project together, I began to look for a good support rider for here, just until the day she proposed I do it myself. So, I went back to the gym and went on a diet”. With a team mate of Arcarons stature, the world trial champion enters with a very important advantage in the battle for the win.

15-11-2010 - A day of training for the South Americans

A preparation day for the 2011 Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile took place in Buenos Aires this past November 13th. A majority of the South American riders and teams were on hand for a presentation conducted by Etienne Lavigne, David Castera as well as the special participation of 2010 Dakar motorcycle champion, Cyril Despres. 

100 or so competitors made their way to the Argentinean capital to receive guidance that they well now contemplate then put to use right from the start of the rally. The programme was especially concocted for the Argentinean, Chilean, Mexican and Peruvian Dakar rookies. But a handful of more experienced riders were also present. Among them were the Pastroneli brothers, Marco and Alejandro, first and second in the Quad category in 2010 as well as Eduardo Alan, Rodolfo Bollero, José Luis Di Palma, Rafael Sanchez, Christian Rubinetti, Patxi Otaño, Pablo and Ariél Jatón, Cristián Lusardi, Eduardo Amor, Alberto Tornatore, Sebastian Halpern, Santiago Hansen, Javier Pizzolito, Walter Dagostini, Diego Demelchori, the Columbian Juan Manaul Linares, etc… 
This instruction day allowed the newcomers to familiarise themselves with bivouac life and pick up several useful tips for preparing their conditioning and technique. Lessons on how to read the road book and using safety and navigation equipment were also part of the programme.

03-11-2010 - Reconnaissance is complete

In October all thoughts in Chile were with the miners of Copiapo, stuck then freed from the entrails of the Atacama Desert, after 69 days under ground. During this time, David Castera and the Dakar reconnaissance team criss-crossed the region on the final trip to Chile before the rally passes through this coming January. 

This last mission was to write and design the road book for the six Chilean stages. The route for the four vehicles was particularly sandy. The specials feature long dune sectors where the teams will have to employ their obstacle clearing skills. Among the potential problems to take into account, Dakar Sporting Director David Castera had to anticipate the different weather conditions that can change the consistency of the sand. “The dunes are a lot more difficult to negotiate when the sand is soft and thus less weight-bearing. This is precisely the case during the January southern summer, so we made sure that the rally vehicles will be able to pass everywhere.” Navigating errors in this decor of mountainous sand, which is delicate to negotiate could result in minutes if not hours of nightmares. “I won’t be specific about which stage, but there are certain places where the dunes are so high that it is better not to set off towards the bottom of a basin, because it would then be impossible to get out without getting help”, warned David Castera. 

And now?
The course is now laid out, validated and recorded. With the notes jotted along the route, the time consuming work of creating a coherent transcription for the definitive version of the road book has yet to begin. The document includes designs corresponding to the visual bearings and the direction indications that will guide the competitors the entire length of the stage. Printed and stored at undisclosed locations, they will be distributed to the drivers and navigators only at the end of each stage in order to begin to work on the particularities of the following day’s stage.

26-10-2010 - The Aussies are coming!

This year the “Personal Dakar Argentina Chile” has attracted a record number of Australian competitors. On two wheels or four, they might even improve the quality of the performance through sheer strength of numbers. Their best men have set their sights on the Top 10.

The movement is on the march. In the next edition of the Dakar a record will already have been broken with the issue of technical and administrative scrutineering, since eight vehicles driven by Australians are expected at the start of Buenos Aires. It is in the motorcycle category that we can observe a real upsurge from the other end of the world, with six machines already committed and four new participants in the rally. Apart from anything else these four wild rovers make up the first 100% Australian team in the Dakar, GHR Honda, in which they aim to make their presence felt on the track. Armed with the experience gained in the Australasian Safari Rally, the benchmark event in their part of the planet, the “Aussies” are pinning their hopes on the youngest among them to join battle with the best in the discipline. Their spearhead, little wizard Jacob Smith, will be only 22 years old when he come to the start of the Dakar, but his victory in the 2009 Safari gives him all the confidence of a champion in the making: “My goal is to finish in the Top 10. And this year I’m here just to learn the ropes. Then I’ll be trying to score a better result!”. Sure of his grounds, go-getter Jacob still concedes certain limits as regards global positioning navigation: “now you mention it, I’ve never used GPS up to now!”
In that respect much is expected of both cars. However, Bruce Garland and navigator Hiroaki Suzuki sport some impressive feathers in their caps, with an overall 11th place in the first South American edition of the Dakar, in 2009. Since which time the words of the driver, incidentally now five-time winner of the Safari, ring out loud and clear as a warning to all the outsiders in the rally: “our goal is to finish in the Top 10 and to be the first in line for the million dollars”.

The Australians in the Dakar 2011
Motorcycles: Mark Davidson, Simon Harslett, Simon Pavey, Andrew Scott, Jacob Smith, Warren Strange
Auto rally: Bruce Garland - Hiroaki Suzuki (Jap), Geoffrey Olholm - Steve Riley

05-10-2010 - Recon, act III: Argentina on paper

The latest series of recon work, devoted to writing the road-book, started with the Argentinean section of the route, keeping Etienne Lavigne, David Castera and their teams busy for three weeks.

The caravan
Four vehicles wound their way through Argentina during the month of September to put the route for the Dakar 2011 down on paper. At the front, the scout led his fellow travellers along the tracks which had been chosen and validated beforehand, to check one last time that the route was fit for passage. Behind, the draughtsperson, constantly in touch via radio with the scout, was in charge of taking all the notes that will allow the competitors to identify and adapt their speed to hazards, etc. The third car was in charge of assistance and general logistics, whilst two teams from France Télévisions and Eurosport were passengers in the final vehicle, to record images to be broadcast in the lead up to the rally.

The programme
During the recon days in March, which were followed during the summer by journeys in the company of representatives from the Chilean National Monuments Committee (CNM), and the Chilean National Environment Committee (CONAMA), the route was validated. The next task was to translate it into sporting terms in the road-book, an intricate task for which the writers need to immerse themselves in the context of the race. Three or four days’ work are necessary to finish a stage, bearing in mind that on some specials, three different routes (one for bikes, one for cars and one for trucks) were prepared. In total, six stages were reconnoitred on the Argentinean part of the rally.

The surprises
Whilst exploring the northern part of the country, closing in on the borders with Paraguay and Bolivia, the Dakar 2011 teams should expect to discover a different picture of Argentina. “It is more desert-like than what we have seen in previous years, both on the outward section and on the return to Buenos Aires”, explains David Castera. “What’s more, apart from two stages in which we will be going over old ground, 70% of the tracks are new, with in particular the long stretches over the last few specials”.

04-10-2010 - Getting a step ahead with the “Dakar Training Day”

The South American competitors will have the opportunity to take part in a Dakar preparation day on 13th November in Buenos Aires. Etienne Lavigne and David Castera will have plenty of advice that will be especially valuable for newcomers to the rally.

To make the dream come true, the participants must first ensure they concentrate on the matter in hand and the basics. The South American adventure of the Dakar over the last two years has been quick to spark the keenness of the continent’s motorsport enthusiasts, who have seen it as an opportunity to write their name in the sport’s history. The number of competitors from Argentina and Chile, but also Brazil, Uruguay or Bolivia, has also increased considerably. However, the appetite for sand of the riders, drivers and crews does not always fall in line with just how much of it they can stomach! Indeed, by the end of the event, the success rate of the Latin Americans is significantly lower than the average. The rally organisers have therefore decided to organise a “Dakar Training Day” on 13th November, to help the least experienced to take starter’s orders with a bit more extra assurance.
With Etienne Lavigne and David Castera at the helm, the training day will allow the newcomers to familiarise with life on the bivouac and take advantage of a welter of useful advice on physical and technical preparation in the weeks leading up to the start of the rally. In particular, special lessons will be given on how to read the road-book and use the navigation instruments, since sometimes competitors have to do a perilous ‘crash course’ on them during the first days of the race. Once on the tracks, getting down to business should prove less risky!

30-09-2010 - Personal, Dakar title sponsor

After two editions in South America, the Argentina-Chile Dakar is pleased to welcome Argentina’s leading telecommunications business; PERSONAL as title sponsor for what is now the “Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile 2011”. 

Following two very successful years in Argentina and Chile as well as a just as successful international following with images broadcast to 190 countries, PERSONAL, which has been involved in the Latin American event since inception as an official supplier in 2009, then official partner in 2010, will now have its name stamped on the side of every vehicle competing on the most famous rally-raid in the world. 

PERSONAL has provided the rally organizers with mobile telephones and service for the past two years, which will now be offered by official provider of the 2011 Dakar, NOKIA.

PERSONAL will now be more closely linked to the operations of the rally, especially with its attractions scheduled for the start in Buenos Aires. The four million spectators and millions of television viewers tuning in for the event will also have the chance to play with and try out the applications developed by PERSONAL, which will be available on the mobile network.

PERSONAL DIGEST :

Personal is Argentina’s leading enterprise in terms of mobile communications and innovations, with more than 15 million domestic customers. Personal offers GSM mobile telephone service and third generation (GS) on the UMTS / HSPDA networks. Personal is also developing its commercial activities in Paraguay.

Personal is the primary VAS operator and Latin America represents more than 38% of all its sales. It is also the leader in the Argentinean Smart phone market with a more than 50% share of the market.

Personal has been in business in Argentina since 1996, with Telecom Argentina S.A. as share holder. Personal also offers innovative mobile telephone service such as High Definition Internet Mobil (GPRS, EDGE and HSPDA), video calling, different music themes, MMS, streaming, electronic business messaging as well as smart phones and access to social networks.

In June 2010, Personal published its research and developments results for a fourth generation (4G) mobile telephone service in Argentina. With this launch, Personal maintains its position as leader in terms of innovation and in making the latest technologies that are revolutionising mobile telephone service available.

06-09-2010 - Dakar registrations full in the bike category

Four months ahead of the start of the rally raid and two-and-a-half months before the closing of the registrations, the 2011 edition of the Dakar already has a full house in the bike and quad categories.

The registration period for the 33rd edition of the Dakar – that will take place in Argentina and Chile from January 1st to 16th next – is already nearing the end. As is the case in the race as well, the bikers were the fastest to send in their registration forms and dossiers and their number has reached and even surpassed the limit set by the organizers of the rally raid. Indeed, in order to provide for the best possible management of the sporting event, 200 motorbikes and quads will be allowed to start the race in Buenos Aires. As requests for further registrations in both categories are still flowing in, a waiting list has been established to allow a few more riders to join the race should any of the already registered contenders defect in the weeks to come.

On the 2011 Dakar, motorbike manufacturers are following the lead of last year’s precursors and moving towards 450cc bikes or less. After Aprilia – which managed to put Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez on the podium for his very first time in the raid – it is now BMW that has registered and is sporting big ambitions with the creation of the Speedbrain BMW Rally Team. The new team immediately hired David Frétigné and Frans Verhoeven, who first test drove the machine in 2010. Bearing in mind that all the riders in the elite category have to register with a 450cc, the new outsiders will race on equal terms with the usual duel contenders Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, who both won the last five editions of the raid they participated in on KTM bikes. In the struggle for final victory, we will also have to count with the expertise of Yamaha with 450cc bikes, and on Honda and Sherco riders of the likes of David Casteu.

25-08-2010 - VW: 3 for a hat-trick!

With the Dakar 2011 in mind, on Saturday in Trier in Germany Volkswagen proudly presented its new rally-raid prototype, the Race Touareg III! By no means a revolution, it is a well-thought out development of this racing beast, with brand new aerodynamics as its distinctive feature. The goal is to grab a 3rd consecutive triumph on January’s Grand Classic!

The 2,000-year old amphitheatre in Trier was a fitting setting to welcome the gigantic show put on by Volkswagen for 10,000 guests who came to the presentation of the new Race Touareg III. It has to be said that Wolfsburg’s latest “offspring” has a lot to live up to if it is to do as well as its predecessor and consequently offer a 3rd victory in a row on the Dakar to the German constructor.

“The Dakar is a mythical event, so everything must be perfect to win it”, is the opinion of Kriss Nissen, Volkswagen’s sporting director. “The technology, drivers, assistance team, logistics... each sector is crucial. If you want to win you first need to tame the race, then beat your rivals. We have learned an enormous amount over the last few years and all this experience has been poured into designing this new Race Touareg. I’m convinced that we have found the ideal mix between evolution and revolution”.
With a better cooling system, optimised gearbox settings and increased engine power at altitude, the VW engineers have made significant changes to the mechanics of the Race Touareg III, but this is nothing when compared to the aerodynamics. Deliberately closer to the shape of the new road vehicle, the design of the Race Touareg III contributes to an increase in maximum speeds but also to better engine cooling. Furthermore, the internal system has been completely redesigned and now enables the 2.5 litre TDI diesel to boast 310 horsepower, which amounts to 7 more than the previous version.
This new racer will make its competitive debut during the Silk Way Rally, which will take place in Russia from 11th to 18th September. Afterwards, four of these cars will be enrolled in the Dakar 2011, which will take place from 1st to 16th January in South America. Unsurprisingly, the four drivers will be Spaniard Carlos Sainz, the title holder, South-African Giniel De Villiers, winner in 2009, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah and American Mark Miller.

09-07-2010 - The Route and the Environment

Aware as always of the need for the rally raid to respect natural sites, the Dakar organisers have approached the authorities of the countries crossed to bring them into the route reconnaissance process.

In order to abide as firmly as possible by the rules of environmental protection, the team of Etienne Lavigne and David Castera did the second reconnaissance tour with representatives of the National Committee for Chilean Monuments (CNM) and of Chile’s National Environmental Agency (CONAMA). Being the country with the biggest off-road sections of the rally raid, Chile is – indeed – quite concerned by the Dakar crossing its territory, whilst the part of the rally taking place in Argentina is mainly happening on existing trails and tracks.

As it were, the recce organised during the whole of 2010 have completely integrated the environmental data in the loop. Indeed, after a first reconnaissance phase in April aimed at producing a first draft route for the 2011 rally raid, David Castera handed in the said draft in May to two governmental bodies for them to produce a pre-assessment of the intended route of the upcoming Dakar.

Then, at the end of June, Etienne Lavigne and David Castera drove – for 10 days – two archaeologists and a palaeontologist of the CNM, as well as two CONAMA representatives on a physical reconnaissance tour of the intended route, in order for them to deliver a final validation this time...

Once final validation will have been achieved and some possible amendments made to the route, the reconnaissance for the event proper will be allowed to start in September in order to define and draft the road book; this third recce phase will be longer but shall remain under the supervision and cooperation of the authorities.

“It is really great to see that the governments are keen on pushing their cooperation with our teams further”, says Etienne Lavigne. “Their presence is absolutely necessary when we are defining the route. We are doing our very best to care for the environment and to make sure that the sites we are driving through will be protected from the identification of the route onwards, but on the matter, the support of the governmental authorities is always a big plus.”

29-06-2010 - Dakar World Tour – Italy

For its final stage, the Dakar World Tour heads back to Milan. The many aficionados of the rally raid who went to the majestic Hotel of the Region of Lombardy were won over by the presentation of the challenge sent out in January 2011 in Argentina and Chile.

The Dakar hit the heights when it turned towards a new Italian correspondent, JVD, which had the task of organizing a reception on the top of the tower of the Hotel of Lombardy. Good neighbour President of the Region, Roberto Formigoni, came to encourage all the drivers and bikers who had made the journey to discover the details of the 2011 event. Inspired by flagship company Aprilia, signatory of a winning return on the Dakar with the third place of Chilean Francisco López, the Italian riders promise serious competition for their Spanish, French or American rivals. The untiring Franco Picco, again 23rd in Buenos Aires last year, will certainly have plenty of advice to give enduro rider Jarno Boano, who plans to mount a machine to take part in the next Dakar. Davide Borghesi, Aprilia team manager, will be there with a possibly more numerous team in South America, to transform the trial and head off in search of his first victory.

Before the projected images, the old lions of the Dakar, like Giacomo Vismara, once again feel the excitement of the big desert, Atacama style. Maurizio Traglio and his colleagues in Team Tecnosport count on collecting new souvenirs, after finishing in “tourist class” in last year’s rally.

25-06-2010 - Trail Hunters…

The reconnaissance team led by David Castera has already driven a few thousand kilometres and had some hitches along the way in Argentina and Chile when finishing the reconnaissance of the final route of the Rally Raid. Here is the story of the first reconnaissance tour.

It all starts with a dive into mapping software systems for weeks. The IT tool provides a realistic, a precise vision of the terrain where drivers, riders and teams of the Dakar will fight for victory. The stage cities are chosen on the basis of the software assessment. It is then time to go there and check the consistency of the draft route. This is the purpose of the first series of reconnaissance that was completed a few days ago in Argentina and Chile. David Castera, the race manager, made three stays in the field with the South-American teams of the rally to check all sites and trails on the agenda. Drawn in details after the first round of recce, the route will then be put forward for approval to representatives of the authorities in charge of environmental protection and to associations in charge of protecting archaeological sites. People from both structures shall also ride along with the team for the second run of reconnaissance that will drive the route once again this summer.

As planned, it is in the North of Argentina that David started previewing the route contenders will have to face. Immediately, the “trail hunter” has his first disappointments: “We moved very slowly because a lot of the trails did not exist or would lead us towards hills and mountains that are too high. Eventually we found a pretty wide corridor that will take us to Tucuman and then to Jujuy. In terms of landscapes, I really liked the fairy chimneys that can be seen in the background in the area. The other satisfaction of the beginning of the raid is to reuse the principle of separate stages for bikes and then cars and trucks, with e.g. more technical sections for the two-wheelers.”

For this third Latin-American edition of the raid, the Dakar will pursue its discovery of Chile up to Arica, just a stone’s throw from the Peruvian border. The stay in the Atacama Desert will – once again – be the highlight of the Chilean part of the raid: “Opportunities are almost endless around the two huge sand banks and dunes of Copiapo and Iquique. I keep finding locations each time I go there. The contenders are in for new surprises”, explains Castera talking about the stages designed in the kingdom of off-road rallying.

When inspiration is missing, chance seems to come to the rescue of the reconnaissance team looking for routes that will challenge the contenders on the way back to Buenos Aires: “After a stage where the contenders will have to fight against the white sand dunes in Fiambala, I wanted to keep the bar high and the race intense up to the finish line. But to reach San Juan, I had found nothing but useless or uninteresting trails. I was getting depressed when we met a tour guide specialized in hiking who knows the area like the back of his hand. We had a chat; he called some of his buddies to the rescue and the next day, we were five men looking for the right track for the special stage in question!” With the help of his new improvised recce team mates, David was pretty happy about the gems found by his table neighbours: “In a nutshell, it is really the most beautiful stage of the rally both for the race and for the landscape. It runs through canyons and rios; it plunges into valleys of red rocks... it is simply amazing!”

23-06-2010 - Dakar World Tour - Poland

A Dakar presentation was held in Warsaw, Poland, for the very first time - and around a hundred guests came along to see the superb National Olympic Committee installations.

Top Polish competitors were able to share their first impressions of the track with the many media representatives present.

The full Team Orlen was there - including young motorcyclist Jakub Przygonski, who took 10th place in the general standings in 2010, and was one of the Dakar’s highest hopes in the Bike category.

In cars, the media were once again seduced by the kindness of Krzysztof Holowczyk, European rally champion in 1997 - and above all 5th in the general standings of the Dakar 2009!

The Quad was also honoured with Sonik Rafal - 3rd in 2009 and 5th in 2010 – and the Polish quad rider was able to share his passion for the Dakar with the journalists.

09-06-2010 - Dakar World Tour - Chile

A presentation of Dakar 2011 took place in Santiago, Chile on Monday, in the presence of Gabriel Ruiz Tagle, Secretary of State for Sports, Institut National de Sports (IND), Grégory Murac, in charge of External Relations at the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and David Eli, ASO representative in South America.
The biggest names in Chilean motor sports were there – among them Francisco ’Chaleco’ López, Eliseo Salazar, Carlo de Gavardo, Jorge Latrach, Felipe Prohens and Manuel Jamett.
More than 150 people came along (drivers, co-drivers, journalists and sponsors) to take part in this event at Casa Piedra - where, in addition to being shown the very best images from the 2010 edition, they learned all about the regulatory changes.
Drivers Felipe Prohens and Jorge Latrach then spoke movingly about their experience of the Dakar. The motorcyclist stressed the very demanding nature of the Dakar. For him, unless you are constantly vigilant, there’s no hope; road conditions can be changeable and sometimes treacherous. It’s therefore very import that no detail is neglected. Jorge Latrach advised novices wanting to compete to make careful physical and mental preparations.

27-05-2010 - Dakar World Tour - Brazil

Dakar World Tour arrives in Brazil in order to attract more Brazilians to the competition Sao Paulo is the Brazilian city chosen to host the Dakar World Tour event on which the largest rally of the world, which has been presented in several cities around the world. With the presence of Gregory Murac, director of External Affairs of the Dakar, the event was attended by big names in off-road in the country, as the truck pilot Andre Azevedo, who owns 23 participations in the curriculum at the Dakar Rally since its implementation in Africa, and who was present in the two stages in the South American territory. And also, Guilherme Spinelli (Cars), Zé Hélio and Dimas Mattos (Motorcycle). During the event, was presented to Brazilian journalists information about the 2011 edition of the competition, which hopes to attract a record number of Brazilian competitors in all categories.

24-05-2010 - Dakar World Tour - Japan

The Dakar World Tour stopped off in Japan. Over the years, the rally has earned a special familiarity here, through the Shinozuka and Masuoka victories in cars. In Tokyo, motor sports enthusiasts continue to take an active interest in the Dakar: the presentation of the 2011 edition brought together more than 70 guests - competitors and media representatives. The Sugawara family was there in its entirety, to begin its preparation by listening to the initial indications given by Etienne Lavigne and Frédéric Lequien. As was Jun Mitsuhashi, who is already considering how he will defend his title in the production category. The session also provided the many motorcyclists who are planning to join in with the adventure a chance to make initial contact with the rally. Representatives of the Argentinean and Chilean Embassies came along to meet the future visitors to their countries.

20-05-2010 - Dakar World Tour - Bulgaria

Tour of the Balkans continues. The organisation team was in the Bulgarian capital to present the 2011 edition of Dakar, in which the country’s top driver may be participating. Alexander Ivanov is planning an exploration of the Argentinean and Chilean territory next January, with his son as co-driver. More than 70 journalists turned up for the announcement of this event. The Bulgarian Minister of Sport came along in person, keen to offer his encouragement to the brand new team.

19-05-2010 - Dakar World Tour - China

The Dakar World Tour stopped off in Beijing, where more than 150 guests, competitors, media representatives and partners joined Etienne Lavigne for a presentation of the 2011 edition. Among those manufacturers attentive to the Dakar Director’s explanations, were: Jincheng, who spotted a future for its bikes at the rally, as did Rely and Great Wall Motors, for their 4x4s.

17-05-2010 - Dakar World Tour - Spain, Serbia, Czech Republic, Slovakia

The Dakar Tour was rich, last week – with no less than four dates. Altogether, almost 400 people travelled to it - in Barcelona, Belgrade, Prague or Bratislava.

Etienne Lavigne was in Spain to present the Dakar 2011 and meet Spanish competitors and media. In terms of bikes, the biggest names came along: Marc Coma, Gerard Farres, Juan Pedrero, Marc Guasch, … and as for Jordi Arcarons – he was accompanied by Laia Sanz, his new protégée. The quad category was represented by Jose Manuel Gonzalez ‘Pedregat’. On four wheels, Xavier Foj and Lucas Cruz came to meet the Dakar director. And the loyal Epsilon team was very well-represented at this get-together.

Balazs Szalay, Dakar correspondent in Central Europe, took care of the presentations in Serbia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

He was surrounded by many competitors: Ivan Jakes, Stefan Svitko, the Czech Dakar Team and Gabor Saghmeister.

10-05-2010 - Dakar World Tour

More than 150 people attended the first date of the Dakar World Tour on Thursday 6th May, which brought Belgian and Dutch competitors together in Eindhoven.

Frédéric Lequien, Assistant Director of the Dakar, together with Henk Hellegers and Olivier Depléchin – Dakar correspondents for the Netherlands and Belgium, respectively – were surrounded by a range of emblematic Dakar personalities.

29-04-2010 - Argentina – Chile 2011: the route and new features

The organisers of the Dakar this morning unveiled the route of the 33rd edition, which will take place from 1st to 16th January 2011 in Argentina and Chile. Competitor enrolment will open on 15th May on www.dakar.com

For this third episode in South America, the riders, drivers and crews will be returning to some places that have already written themselves into the rally’s legend, such as the white dunes of Fiambala, the vast Atacama Desert or the dizzying descent to Iquique. More particularly, they will have the opportunity to discover five new Argentinean provinces, come close to Bolivia and encounter the very northern tip of Chile in Arica, at the gateway to Peru.

In order to respect the rally-raid spirit; the rules will continue to change in 2011, with all elite riders in the bike category obliged to ride on a machine whose power does not exceed 450cc. Furthermore, the GPS functions have been reduced for guidance to the WPM (way point markers), giving priority to reading and mastering the road-book.

The collaboration between the rally’s teams and the various bodies in charge of environmental matters has continued during all the preparatory phases for the Dakar 2011, with particular care given to avoiding sensitive areas on the path of the rally’s route. Additionally, a new assessment of the race’s carbon footprint has been commissioned to determine the greenhouse gas emissions related to the rally.

For more than 30 years in Africa, and now in South America, the rally has teamed up with many initiatives to establish links with the people that welcome it. The context of rebuilding currently experienced by Chile has incited the organisers to develop aid with housing, via the charity Un Techo Para Mi Pais (www.untechoparamipais.org).

The Dakar World Tour, a series of presentations of the rally intended for competitors, partners and the media, will take place in 17 different countries, starting on 6th May.

02-04-2010 - Destination Chile

After a short stop in Argentina, Etienne Lavigne travelled to Santiago in Chile, where he met the new President, Sebastian Pinera, elected on the day the last edition of the Dakar finished.

During their meeting, the organisers of the Dakar especially focused on the country’s current difficulties brought about by the very strong earthquake and tidal wave that occurred last month. Like his Secretary of State for Tourism, who travelled to Paris on the day the destination of the Dakar 2011 was announced, Sebastian Pinera reiterated that, in this context, the rally would play an important role in helping the Chilean people “dry their tears”. Biker Felipe Prohens, also invited to this meeting at the Palais de la Moneda, confirmed that “the Dakar 2011 would be an opportunity to show that Chile is still standing”.

31-03-2010 - The Dakar is already in Buenos Aires

After the announcement of the destination of the Dakar 2011, which Argentina and Chile will be welcoming for a third edition, the time has come to start work again in preparation for next year’s event. As a result, Etienne Lavigne has been to Argentina, where he met the country’s President, Cristina Kirchner, in the company of the last edition’s national heroes.

The start of the Dakar 2011 is now only 9 months away. During this period, there will be many issues to be addressed, but for the moment there is still a certain mood of relaxation. As often in Argentina, the story started at a football pitch. Etienne Lavigne was invited to the Estadio Monumental stadium belonging to the River Plate club to watch the derby against neighbouring club Argentinos Juniors. He was given a replica of the famous white jersey with red sash by club Chairman Daniel Passarella, captain of the Argentine national team that won the 1978 world cup. In return, he offered a copy of the Dakar 2010 official book.

This first working journey was followed by a meeting with the Argentinean President who organised a press conference in the presence of several Argentinean competitors from the most recent Dakar. The Patronelli brothers, who dominated the quad category, were in attendance as was rider Eduardo Alan. Accompanied by her Secretary of State for Tourism and her Minister of the Interior, Cristina Kirchner was keen to underline the importance of the Dakar’s economic impact for her country, valued at 673 million pesos.

23-03-2010 - DAKAR 2011: ARGENTINA-CHILE, ACT III

After two editions in South America, the organisers of the Dakar are pleased to announce that the world’s leading rally-raid will take place there again in 2011.

The excellent relations built up with the two countries, the vital assets in sporting terms, as well as the swell of enthusiasm seen amongst spectators last January, have led the Dakar team to propose a third instalment in Argentina and Chile for the 2011 edition, which will take place from 1st to 16th January.

For Enrique Meyer, the Argentine Secretary of State for Tourism, “being able to count on the Dakar again is a dream come true for Argentina. For the last two years, in addition to the sporting aspect, we have displayed to the whole wide world (more than 190 countries) our landscapes and people. We are very proud to welcome the Dakar again and have worked very hard to be able to do so”.

Furthermore, the new Minister for Sports in Chile, Ruiz Tagle, explains, “It is an honour for Chile to be confirmed as a co-host of the Dakar 2011. We are convinced that this veritable international festival of sport is a perfect way of showing the unique sites of our country to the rest of the world. We would like to underline the importance of this event at a time when our country is suffering the consequences of a devastating earthquake. This Dakar will help us look toward the future and demonstrate that Chile is capable of overcoming such misfortune”.

For the coming years, the rally organisers are continuing to work on several projects, in particular the possibility of a return to the African continent.

Important dates for organisation of the rally:

15th May 2010: Enrolment for the rally opens on www.dakar.com
End of November 2010: Vehicles from Europe will board at Le Havre for the trans-Atlantic crossing
30th and 31st December 2010: Scrutineering in Buenos Aires
1st January 2011: Briefing, starting ceremony and departure to the first bivouac
2nd to 15th January 2011: Dakar Rally 2011 Argentina-Chile
16th January 2011: Finishing ceremony in Buenos Aires

The detailed route and sporting news will be unveiled at a press conference in Paris on 29th April.

07-03-2010 - Dakar book

Get a feeling of the 2010 Dakar with the official book made of more than 300 incredible pictures.

Order here or at k.bimson@silver-editions.com

18-01-2010 - The picture of the year

Natasha Pisarenko of Associated Press was rewarded by Agustin Agraz, Public Affair Manager of LAN Argentina, for the picture she took during the Dakar.