The world's most challenging cross-country rally did not ring in the New
Year per their traditional date, instead the drivers and riders will
start their long trek on January 6, 2007. For the second successive
season, the event will start from the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.
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Overall map: 15 stages, from 2007-01-06 to 2007-01-21, Lisboa to Dakar. Photo by A.S.O.
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Tomorrow, the competitors will start the two days of scrutineering,
documentation and briefings before they take on the adventure covering
16 days before the winners in the Bike, Car and Truck categories become
legends.
The first two of the 15 stages will again take place in Portugal and
Spain before those who dare to take on Dakar cross the Mediterranean
Sea and enter Africa. From Morocco to Senegal, the event will cover six
countries in what the ASO organizers are calling a fast-changing pace
over the 15 days of competition. As in previous years, the competitors
will have one day of rest. On January 13, they will be able to take the
needed break in Atar.
Navigation is again one of the main keys for the professional racers and
the amateurs who dare to take up the dangerous Dakar event. With the
fast stretches mixed in with the technical aspects, skill and alertness
is one of the top priorities as they negotiate around traps, over sand
dunes, in mountain regions, crossing rivers and the tricky camel grass.
From Morocco's sand dunes to Mauritania to Mali and finally ending in
Dakar, Senegal, this year's route has many changes covering 7,915km with
4,309km of actual specials and over 3,500km of liaison time.
On Saturday, the event begins on the route from Lisbon to Portimao. The
opening day will have a surprise in Portugal and the sand will set the
stage of things to come where driving skill will be main ingredient over
the 117km special.
On the second day, they will cross into Spain with a short 67km special
on the route to Malaga where they take on ravines and mountains as
the pace will slow on the roads that will be similar to World Rally
Championship racers. The special will be followed by a long liaison
taking them to the docks to catch their boat ride into the African
continent.
The first stage in Morocco will take the field from Nador to Er Rachidia
with a 252km. As navigation comes to the forefront with a labyrinth of
mazes. The pilots will be tempted to hit high speeds across the rocky
roads and those who are less experienced might find that the Dakar is
all they expected and more.
January 9th will be one of the first main challenges as they take the
route to Ouarzazate with a 405km special route over the sand dunes. It
is one stage that make or break the amateur racers as they discover the
beauty mixed in with traps.
On the fifth day, they leave Ouarzazate and head to Tan Tan on a shorter
but tough 325km special as they visit the Atlas Mountains but they will
have little time to enjoy the dramatic site. The Truck class will take a
different route but nevertheless will still need to keep their focus.
On Thursday, the 11th, the competitors will have a long liaison before
the 394km special as they cross into Mauritania on their way to Zouerat
on the longest day for a total of 817km. The pre-dawn route will take
them on a real off-road adventure where driver technique and their
co-drivers will need to use their best navigational skills.
Before they can catch their breaths, they head to Atar with second
longest special of 542km. The teams will be busy as they take on dunes,
ergs and fatigue.
Those that make it to Atar will enjoy the day of rest -- one they will
need before the longest and dangerous special -- one that has seen the
field get smaller.
January 14th is the route from Atar to Tichit with a 589km special on a
stony route before a brief visit crossing the sand and finding an oasis.
It is a change in route after last year's tragedy, not only for Sunday
but for the next few days.
From Tichit, they face another 494km special without a pre liaison on
the way to Nema. As they cross the desert which was one of the classics
of the Dakar rally in the past, they will notice that their will be few
landmarks and if not careful, one could lose their way. Their goal is to
reach Nema before night comes.
A new twist is the 366km loop of Nema on the 11th day as they leave the
Sahara and its famous sand dunes for the savannah.
From Nema to Ayoun, they traverse a 280km liaison without a daily
special as they remain in Mauritania due to a change in the original
route. The next day, they head from Ayoun to Kayes with a 257km special
as they arrive in Mali.
From Kayes, they make their way to Tambacounda with a 260km. With
their arrival in Senegal, the drivers and riders know they are close
to completing the 29th Edition of Dakar but first they need to really
concentrate on team work in order to enter Tambacounda.
A 225km special followed by the 227km liaison takes them into Dakar. The
final day (Jan. 20) will be the traditional Dakar 16km special loop.
Alas, those who are overly confident could end up with surprises.
The final day, January 21, will be one of water and champagne as they
make their way around the Lac Rose loop in Dakar. Those who participate
are all winners in their own right because they made it to Dakar, they
deserve the accolades of simply finishing.
For the podium finishers, it is a moment to behold and remember. For the
victors, they have made history, they will become known as the legends
of Dakar.
In the 2006 edition, Vladimir Tchaguine scored his fifth Dakar
championship in the Truck devision. The Russian had competition and
even he hit trouble but while others fell by the wayside, he again made
history. KTM rider Marc Coma tasted his first Dakar victory and the
quiet Spaniard became a legend for the first time. The car category was
another first when Mitsubishi's Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard crossed
over to the legend category with their first Dakar title.
Who will win this year and who will survive an event that has become
known as the world's most dangerous motor sport event?
One must take into account that the field is comprised of both
professional and amateur racers. Some are there in their first attempt,
many will simply be learning the many aspects of Dakar that they will
face for the future.
The event is far from easy, it is very demanding from the non allowed
use of GPS except as a compass. That includes what is termed "Hidden Way
Points" which display them within a 3km radius. The road book is the one
book that they must depend on, even using it for the Hidden Way Points
that are displayed.
Penalties can occur easily if one is not careful due to time limits set
to reach checkpoints along the route which includes all liaisons; not
just the specials. Plus the liaisons have speed limits.
Getting lost will cost time but if they activate a release code allowing
them use of the GPS to find a village, they can receive penalties or be
excluded.
The organizing body, ASO, have taken steps for safety measures as well
as clarifying the rules which in many instances can be very strict and
enforced at any given time.
Dakar is many things, from rugged countryside to breathtaking mountains
views to crossing rivers to climbing sand dunes. The competitors will
race through camel grass and drive through villages.
Yet, one must always remember that beyond the challenge, Dakar can
spell danger -- it can make or break the strongest racer and it can see
sadness when a competitor crashes. Some do not survive, some take months
to recovery. And yet, many racers across the globe would welcome the
opportunity to run Dakar.
