THE VALUES
The Dakar spirit is at the crossroads of several passions. Added to the fact that it is an event of its own, off the standards in the world of motorsports, it is also a unique human experience in which the link established with Africa has a crucial role.
A first choice sporting competition
More than a simple speed race, the Dakar demands off-road navigation skills and regularity. In rally-raid, endurance is what counts, any upset can cost a great deal. This mix between physical rigour and technical performances has seduced champions from different horizons for close to thirty years, all wanting to test themselves and take on this event like no other. Former World rally champion, Ari Vatanen found the good formula; Stéphane Peterhansel, an exceptional all-rounder at the start of his career became the uncontested expert of the event; Cyril Despres, Enduro World champion, climbed on the highest step of the podium; Alpine skiing World champion, Luc Alphand, made the best of his learning years in the desert; Isabelle Patissier, Carlos Sainz and now Carole Montillet have also decided to go for the ultimate goal: to win the Dakar.
A one in a kind human experience
Like mountains or oceans, the desert inspires "adventurers". Taking part in the Dakar is what one could compare to climbing Everest, sailing or rowing around the World. The finish podium on the shores of the Lac Rose or elsewhere represents the ultimate challenge, sometimes even of a lifetime.
Other than the overall standing, all the competitors are motivated by this tenacious desire, this almost crazy dream. Whether they’re bikers, drivers or truckers, all share the same ambition, a feeling that brings them closer to one-another. The tradition of mutual help, a key factor that is one of the pillars of the "Dakar spirit", is born from this common passion. They all speak the same language.
A meeting with the heart of Africa
Africa is vast and multiple. Silent or noisy, hostile or welcoming, it is often paradoxical but its charm works beautifully on men and women that are willing to listen. Founder of the event, Thierry Sabine was deeply touched by this magic. Those who followed him on the way to Dakar in 1979 and since then, all have in common this sensitivity and have built a privileged link with the continent.
Indeed Africa isn’t only a land. The nature, from the deserts to the tropical forests and the mountains, is splendid. But this continent’s soul really comes from its inhabitants. It is towards them that the Dakar turns. This simplicity comes from all the moments of complicity, the time taken to enjoy a drink or a tea or a night under a tent. And that’s what can gather men together.