A double ambition


November 28 th 2021 - 13:30 [GMT + 3]

"A watershed moment in the history of the Dakar and beyond."

David Castera

Director of the Dakar

"As much as COVID-19 is said to interfere with taste, it has done nothing to dampen the appetite for adventure. The Dakar entrants are already salivating at the thought of the 44th edition, the third to be held on Saudi soil.

The main course on the menu is sand, a local speciality. Competitors will tuck into a hearty meal of dunes and tracks, served in tones ranging from ochre and saffron to golden brown with a dash of coral here and there.

This exceptional backdrop will set the stage for a gathering worthy of the halcyon days of the Dakar, first in Jeddah and shortly afterwards in Ha’il, where the field will set out to tame the desert, take a break in Riyadh and head back towards the shores of the Red Sea. A get-together of this calibre was a must for what will be a watershed moment in the history of the Dakar and beyond, as the unfolding changes will have a ripple effect on the whole season: a double ambition inspires the organisers and stakeholders in the rally.

For the first time, the Dakar will be part of the FIA and FIM world championships, headlining a sporting series that will keep the stakes high year-round. Even more importantly, rally raids, the quintessential sport for those who love the great outdoors, will achieve a milestone in its energy transition as the initial phase of the “Dakar Future” plan is rolled out.

The constructors will now show their aspiration to get to grips with the challenge of extreme endurance out there on the tracks, banking on alternative engines that could well end up powering the cars of tomorrow.

The Dakar is also a constellation of bold visionaries who move the world forward."

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