Dakar goes to South America next year

"Dakar Rally to be staged in South America in 2009

The Rally of Dakar will be staged in South America next year. This year, the Dakar was cancelled due to serious security concerns in Mauritania. Today, the organisers of the event, the ASO, declared that the 2008 Dakar will take place in Argentina and Chile from 3 to 18 January.

On 3 January, the event will kick-off at Buenos Aires and the caravan will return to the Capital city of Argentina on 18 January after driving 9.000 km.

Etienne Lavigne, the Dakar director, declared: "There will be sand, because that's typical of the Dakar, but there will also be new terrains the rally has never been on before."

Tomorrow, the organisers will give more details about the runway of the event."


I'm not sure what to think... no, I am... I WANT AFRICAAAA

aaaaaaaa, que rico

excellent. something totaly new.

I would like them to go through the jungle. That would be new.

I'm not sure what to think of this really. On one hand, its a good decision, for the safety of all. But on the other hand, it just means the terrorists have won, doesn't it? I hope this doesn't set a precedent.

As long as the race does not run through Colombia, then they are fine. Dealing with drug cartels are not a good idea.

I think it's a good idea. Who knows when all the trouble in North Africa will settle down? Let the fuckwits in North Africa fight over their desert. They can have it!
Chile and Argentina are fairly safe countries in South America with a lot of diverse terrain. There won't be much jungle to contend with though because the Amazon is further to the north and east of both these countries.

Its a timely change that is going to deliver well.

hey Drill, that avatar is already in use here.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (memento @ Feb 12 2008, 11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>hey Drill, that avatar is already in use here.

Mari, the forum hottie, is using it. Drill could be one of those stalker types?

So does that mean they will change the name? The namesake "Dakar" is in Africa.

Personally, I think they should have kept it in Africa. Isn't this a race of attrition? How about avoiding the suicide bombers as part of the obstacle course. Its not like people don't die in the ....... race every year.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 14 2008, 12:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>So does that mean they will change the name? The namesake "Dakar" is in Africa.
Possibly not. I still think of it as the Paris-Dakar as it was from 1978 to 1991.

Since then it has not started in Paris except for 1994 and 2001, and it has not finished in Dakar in 1992 (Paris-Cape Town), 1994 (Paris-Dakar-Paris), 2000 (Dakar-Cairo) and 2003 (Marseilles-Sharm el Sheikh). Despite this it has still been known as the Dakar.

I think this is FANTASTIC!!! Maybe switch from Continent to Continent each year!!!