Dakar rally

by AJAX Z

The Dakar Rally , formerly known as The Paris Dakar, is an annual off-road race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. Open to all riders, amateurs and professionals alike, the most prestigious rally-trek, sponsored by national and international federations, brings together an average 500 competitors every year, be it car, motorcycle or truck.

This concept was introduced in the year 1978 by racer Thierry Sabine after he got lost on his motorbike in the Libyan desert and then decided that this would be a good location for a regular rally. Since then, the Paris-Dakar has been a unique event sparked by the spirit of adventure, carrying a message of friendship between all men. Over the course of almost thirty years, it has generated innumerable sporting and human stories and has never failed to challenge, surprise or excite us.

Originally, the rally was from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal through the treacherous desert, interrupted by a transfer across the Mediterranean, however due to politics and other factors, the course, including origin and destination, have been varied over the years.

The rally has also had its share of criticism from several sources. Some of the accusations are about the race's impact on the inhabitants of the countries through which it passes, environmental impact and killing of the local inhabitants and livestock due to collisions with vehicles involved in the race. Even with these accusations and its own share of problems of being cancelled or stopped, the Dakar Rally has been a great entertainer for many car enthusiasts all over the world.