DAKAR DROPS SOUTH AMERICA
T
he Dakar Rally is without a doubt one
of the highlights of the international
enduro calendar, and since the
cancellation of the 2008 rally has been
held in South America through some of the
most incredible landscapes imaginable.
From 2020, however, the iconic rally is set
to make its debut in the Arabian Peninsula
with Dakar organisers the ASO awarding
hosting rights for the event to Saudi Arabia
for the next five years.
The Dakar initially made the move away
from Africa (and its namesake city in
Mauritania) back in 2009 due to the high
threat of terrorism in the region at the
time. However, with the South American
rallies suffering in recent years due to
inclement weather and multiple stage
cancellations, the move to hold the January
rally in Saudi Arabia could see more racing
action than we’ve seen in years.
Racers are already familiar with the
Arabian peninsula thanks to the first round
of the FIM World Rallies Championship
being held in nearby Abu Dhabi.
Reports suggest however that the more
stable climate conditions weren’t the only
factor in the Dakar heading to the Arabian
Peninsula, with multiple sources noting
that new hosts Saudi Arabia offered the
ASO around $15 million for the hosting
rights – Chile, one of the last remaining
South American nations willing to host the
rally, could only muster up $3m.
Saudi Arabia is home to the world’s
largest contiguous sand desert, the Rub’
al Khali, plus the Asir mountains where
temperatures range from -2 to +30
degrees Celsius in January.
KIWI RIDER 19