Dakar 2020

[Chris NewbyFraser]

There has been much speculation about the venue for the 2020 Dakar. A combination route including RSA, Botswana, Angola and Namibia had been looked at but it has now emerged (unconfirmed) that Saudi Arabia flashed the Dollar sign and the rally will go to Saudi for the next 5 years. A fascinating country with a mix of modern and really archaic rules. I wonder how they will take to the various women on the Dakar who will be too busy to worry about the Saudi's frighteningly backward view of women's rights - especially in the deep desert areas which have barely emerged from Noah's days.

 

At least the times will suit us in SA, to be able to stream content, without having to stay up late at night.

 

There is strong talk that Fernando Alonso will drive the third Toyota Hilux for the South African team. So... who will he unseat. The Dutchman Ten Brinke or Geniel de Villiers. Al Attiyah has a guaranteed drive for next year. 

 

When will young Henk Lategan get his chance to drive the worlds toughest rally. He is already matching de Villiers in local races.

[Chris_]

In that case it also confirms Al-Attiyah will win again.

[Eddy Gordo]

There has been much speculation about the venue for the 2020 Dakar. A combination route including RSA, Botswana, Angola and Namibia had been looked at but it has now emerged (unconfirmed) that Saudi Arabia flashed the Dollar sign and the rally will go to Saudi for the next 5 years. A fascinating country with a mix of modern and really archaic rules. I wonder how they will take to the various women on the Dakar who will be too busy to worry about the Saudi's frighteningly backward view of women's rights - especially in the deep desert areas which have barely emerged from Noah's days.

 

At least the times will suit us in SA, to be able to stream content, without having to stay up late at night.

 

There is strong talk that Fernando Alonso will drive the third Toyota Hilux for the South African team. So... who will he unseat. The Dutchman Ten Brinke or Geniel de Villiers. Al Attiyah has a guaranteed drive for next year. 

 

When will young Henk Lategan get his chance to drive the worlds toughest rally. He is already matching de Villiers in local races.

Sorry but this is not called for as these regulations stem from religous beliefs.

[SwissVan]

Sorry but this is not called for as these regulations stem from religous beliefs.

Doesn’t change anything

[Eddy Gordo]

Its offensive towards religion

[NC_lurker]

Its offensive towards religion

Sorry, but it's not. Saudi rules are just plain discrimination and that's a polite description.

 

Pakistan is an Islamic religious state, you don't see them condoning stoning women or suggesting women shouldn't appear in public without a chaperone, or shouldn't drive..etc

[DuncanCT]

There goes this thread, Dakar chat would have been interesting.

[The Guy in Pink]

Its offensive towards religion

So what?  Ridiculous  ideas and beliefs deserve ridicule , no matter what the subject.

[The Guy in Pink]

Back on subject,

Me watching the Dakar at work in 2006

[Eddy Gordo]

So what?  Ridiculous  ideas and beliefs deserve ridicule , no matter what the subject.

So what ..... to islam? Ridiculous. .... in reference to islam or do I misunderstand?

[The Guy in Pink]

So what ..... to islam? Ridiculous. .... in reference to islam or do I misunderstand?

The reference is to all religions which I have examined, except the original Buddhist teachings where reference to gods is not required .

 

More Dakar 2006, going through our mine at Siguri . The Support truck race for me was the exciting bit.

[Eddy Gordo]

https://www.bikehub.co.za/docs/terms_of_use

 

 

[mazambaan]

I see matters a bit delicate about the other SA; ditto on other Dakar based forums.

[Chris NewbyFraser]

Tv viewers of this years race got to see lots of views of the 'side by side' buggy category. Now I see that the South African cross country racing authorities have included this more affordable (and more bugs, mud and sand in the teeth) category in the RSA championships. I reckon we will see more local competitors in future Dakars.

[Skylark]

Sorry but this is not called for as these regulations stem from religous beliefs.

I'm not sure if it's religious based or not but his statement is a fairly accurate representation of the conditions on the ground in those locations?

 

Calling a spade a spade isn't against any rules??

[The Guy in Pink]

There has been much speculation about the venue for the 2020 Dakar. A combination route including RSA, Botswana, Angola and Namibia had been looked at but it has now emerged (unconfirmed) that Saudi Arabia flashed the Dollar sign and the rally will go to Saudi for the next 5 years.

The Race I witnessed in Guinea  was the traditional Paris Dakar. I made this sign below which I erected at the entrance of our site pointing the way to Dakar. (My employer was ECMP)

 

In that 2006 event two village kids were killed by competitors, something that had happened far too regularly as the cars raced through the middle of villages on narrow unmade roads, where the fastest thing the village kids had ever witnessed as a donkey cart.

 

That was the reason it was moved to South America

 

I fear that if it was held in Southern Africa it would have similar tragic consequences, especially if a few rural  taxis were thrown into the mix