Dakar

What used to be known as Paris to Dakar rally is now known as just Dakar. First Paris was dropped as the start point and later the route through African nations to Dakar became too dangerous for everyone concerned.

Now a switch to South America means that I have encountered this sport 3 times so far. If your not familiar with Dakar it is a motor rally consisting of teams of trucks, cars and motorbikes racing through stages of on and off road terrain. 

My first meeting with the sport was on New Years Day a few years ago, I had been to Portugal for a short holiday and my father and I was driving on the motorway back towards Spain. The motorway was lined at every bridge with supporters waving banners and it became apparent quite quickly that something was happening when we passed a few motorbikes with numbers on them. Shortly after the stream of fast off road cars were passing us in a frantic attempt at making up some time on the tarmac. The heavy trucks blocked up the carriageways and made a difficult 6 hour journey home. One highlight was beeping the horn when passing the spectators and watching them spin round from what they was doing to wave at us only to find out we were a normal car on the motorway.

For the last two years I have been in Argentina when the rally passed by us. It brings a lot of excitement here in Argentina, for the duration it is the highlight of all conversations and the coverage on the TV is extensive.

I have compiled some photos taken from this years Dakar. Click on the text bubble icon for a desciption