In 2008, the Dakar Rally, which up unto that point had at least included Northern Africa if not entirely stayed within the borders of the continent, was cancelled due to fears of terrorist attacks becoming a problem for the event. French tourists had been killed in Mauritania in December 2007 by what was later determined to be agents of Al-Qaeda, and event organizers were not willing to put teams, support groups, media and anyone else involved with the rally raids in that kind of danger. In 2009, Dakar moved to South America, where over the years countries willing to host the event have fallen off the map. For the 2019 event, Peru was the only country willing to step up and host the event.
Per an article on rideapart.com, the Angolan Federation of Motorsports have shared a map of a potential route that runs through South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho. At this stage, it’s only a potential route and nothing more…nothing has been set in stone regarding any kind of change to the Dakar. Whether the route could be feasible probably needs to be studied and of course, the proper permissions need to be gained, but with waning popularity in South America, maybe it’s time for the Dakar to move to a new scene.
You’d have to have a suicidal frame of mind to even attempt this one with the way things are over there.
I felt a lot safer in South Africa and Botswana than I did in Mexico. Zimbabwe was a little dicey.
As a specialist in global sponsorship and an award-winning motorsports journalist (who, separately, has rally experience doing pace notes ), I\’m looking to sign on with a team (car or SxS) intent upon the Dakar in Africa, where it belongs. Saw a stage there in the 90s.
Serious inquiries: [email protected]
Thanks, Bill Vartorella