New Road Book Lexicon
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Navigation's innovation
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- So as to do away with risks of high-speed accidents which are potentially the most dangerous, speed is now limited to 150 kph for the motorcycle category. For assistance vehicles, it is limited to 130 kph for cars and 110 kph for trucks.
- Creating Hidden Way Points (HWPs). These are mandatory way points that only come up on the GPS screen within a radius of three kilometres, and which can only be accessed by respecting road-book indications.
- Drawing up a universal road-book. Indications are easier to read (larger lettering, wider boxes…) and the accompanying glossary is translated into seven languages.
- Activating a deblocking code, which incurs a penalty, enables competitors who have gone astray to display HWPs, PCs and entrance and exit points in villages on the GPS screen. Abusive use of this code will bring about sanctions that can go as far as exclusion from the race.
- Since navigation is more active, these measures will also contribute to reducing average race speed.
Safety
Throughout the rally, the safety of all, riders, drivers, followers and spectators aloke, remains the absolute priority. Infrastructure in this area has been enhanced even more via preventive messages broadcast on local radios and Radio France Internationale (RFI), distribution of informative strip cartoons where the race is due to pass, presence of security forces along roads used by the rally, control and limitation of speeds...
Speed controls
So as to do away with risks of high-speed accidents which are potentially the most dangerous, speed is now limited to 150 kph for the motorcycle category. For assistance vehicles, it is limited to 130 kph for cars and 110 kph for trucks.
Fuel range reduced to 250 kms for bikers. As riding is safer and machines lighter with less fuel, there will be two fill-ups over long specials. The mandatory 15-minute break will mean that all competitors will gain in terms of lucidity and staying focused.
For the car race, A.S.O is currently working on the project which would fix a speed limit on the road or on certain portions of the stages where a high speed would be too dangerous and risky.
As you know, the Dakar is not a speed race. As a rally raid, the main qualities required are the ability to stay the course for man and machine alike, navigation skills and crossing techniques.
Speed checks in villages, limited to 50 kph. In 2005, 1,051 checks were caried out. Monitoring methods in 2006 will be identical. GPS will record each excess of the speed limit by means of a visual signal, with race marshals being informedb of each excess when the competitor reaches the bivouac. These rules will also apply to press and organization vehicles.
Locating competitors
Iritrack technology, a data transmitting system via satellite, was tested during the 2005 Dakar on some fifty vehicles. Having proved its efficiency, this new appliance will be mandatory on all race vehicles in 2006, thereby making it possible to pinpoint competitors and contact them at any time of the day or night.
Radio messages
From the beginning of January, information and preventive messages will be broadcast on RFI and local rural radios to make people aware of the risks of the rally. Broadcast in French and local dialects, these messages remind people of the dates when the rally will be coming through as well as safety measures which spectators must respect.
Upstream prevention
In the wake of rally openers, who also ensure the spread of communication in villages, six 4WD vehicles will be covering race and assistance courses three days prior to competitors in order to make local populations better aware of when exactly the rally will be coming. Joint French and African crews will explain the safety measures to be respected, in particular to children, using strip cartoons and loudspeaker messages.
Marking out and presence along the courses
Along race and assistance courses, local authorities will be implementing considerable means, in both logistic and human terms, to ensure optimum raceside safety on the day of the rally. In addition, 4 PC teams will be equipped with medical back-up. The presence of doctors at passage checks will give a quick idea of how fresh competitors are and consequently limit incidents.
Medical assistance
Three medical helicopters will be covering the whole of the rally caravan. This air-borne contingent will be backed up on the ground by ten medially equipped Tangos located along race and assistance routes. At the bivouac, a country hospital will be set up every day. In all, 40 people make up the medical team. To complete the organisation, ambulances will be situated along assistance routes in Mauritania. In addition, the four broom vehicles will be fitted out with medical equipment.
Firefighters onhand
A team of firefighters will be accompanying the rally. At the bivouac, they will be tasked with looking after people's safety and security of installations and equipment. They will also be on hand at trackside on board refuelling trucks.
Orders of departure
With enhanced safety and giving the race a new impetus in mind, orders for departure will vary depending on the profile of the stage. For certain specials, competitors will start in reverse order of the previous day’s classification. The last will leave first and will consequently have less night-driving to do. They will have to plot their course, but will benefit from unspoiled driving terrain. As faster competitors catch up with those ahead, the peloton will be less stretched out, consequently making race administration easier. This rule will only be applied on specials where overtaking is facilitated by track configuration.
Times between departures may vary from 1 to 2 minutes for the first 10.
With fairness in mind
A stage without assistance vehicles is scheduled in Labé. Conditions will therefore be the same for professionals and amateurs alike, and only competitors will be allowed to help each other out.
Prizes earmarked for amateurs are in excess of those for professionals (see table).
MOTORCYCLES: €107,900, including €74,700 for amateurs
1st-time Challenge: €10,800
Elf Amateurs: €15,000
AUTCARSO: €106,000, including €47,500 for amateurs, €18,500 for trucks
TOTAL TROPHY: €11,000 (€1,000 per day, from Moroccan stages onwards)
Course
The course for 2006 will include one or some Marathon stages, with vehicles placed in enclosed parking areas and/or stages without the assistance vehicles. Since these stages will require competitors to spread their efforts out over two days, they will have to increase vigilance over the first day so as to spare their vehicles.
The organization team
Stéphane Le Bail has joined the Dakar team as
car sporting manager. As an experienced co-driver, he has taken part in the rally on several
scores over the past ten years (co-driver, course-setter, reconnaissances…). Also course-setter for FIA all-terrain world cup rally events in 2003 and 2004, he will be contributing his knowledge of car competition and his navigational skills to prepare the courses.
David Castera has also joined the Dakar team as
motorbike sporting manager. A five-time Dakar participant in the bike category, in particular he finished 3rd in 1997. His contribution will be vital during reconnaissances, when he will be tasked with ensuring that the course complies with two-wheeler demands. He will also be taking part in updating the sporting regulations for 2006.
