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Dakar 2010: more dunes, more navigation |
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Tuesday, 26 May 2009 |
,,Forget what you've seen last year'' reports Fredric Lequin of ASO.
,,Dakar in 2010 will be a whole new event. We head to the north of
Argentina and Chili, the route leads through the Atacama Desert. When
you think you have seen dunes, forget it. This is from a different
level.''
Text / photo: Niels Hatzmann / Rallymaniacs.nl
ASO was in the Netherlands, and reveiled their plans for Dakar 2010 to
150 competitors and journalists. With the explanation came also the
apologies for the route and organisation of last year. ,,After 28 years
in Africa, the organisation has reached a certain level, but it wasn't
good enough in South America. These problems will be solved the coming
year.''
New Route
The biggest changes are in the route, which will be a lot tougher and
exciting. The rally will pass more time in the Atacama Desert in Chile,
with wider tracks, high dunes and more high dunes. Also navigation will
play a bigger role: the idea that riders can follow eachother on WRC
tracks is over according the organisation. The speeddifference will be
kept in account, and at some places there will be seperate tracks for
the bikers. The north of Chili and Argentina is incredibily beautiful
and has everything on offer for a spectacular Dakar 2010
Timeschedule
The timeschedule remains more or less the same. End of november all
vehicles will be shipped in Le Havre or Rotterdam, which would be great
for the Dutch competitors and fans.
Scrutinizing is scheduled in Buenos Aires on december 30st and 31st,
start is a january 1st. The caravan returns after 15 tough stages on
january 17th for a podiumfinish.
Media and sponsoring
In South America the Dakar is one of the biggest events. Almost 4
million people in Chili and Argentina visited the race live. Even WRC
and Formula 1 don't have such a big impact in South America , and also
worldwidecan the Dakar, with 1100 hours of television, can compete with
the biggest motorsportevents. Good news for sponsors as Dakar means
value for money.
Subscription
The subscription is open until july 15th. Just like with the
international licence for cars and trucks ASO will look at the
competitionexperience of potential competitors. It's not so important
what this experience is, but you have to show you're able
to finish a Dakar. On the other had ASO has 250 places available, and
doesn't expect these will be completely sold out.
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