THE GREAT LEAP
The all-terrain rallies that take place throughout the season bring together motorsports enthusiasts from many different countries and horizons. Often amateurs, these riders and drivers often reveal talent that they are yearning to test against the best competitors in the discipline. It was precisely in order to give the most promising amongst them the opportunity to shine on the event of reference that the Dakar Challenge was dreamed up and created. This year, four rallies will be involved in this broad initiative for detecting virtuosos behind the handlebars and the wheel. On each race, the least experienced (*) competitors will be able to enrol for the Dakar Challenge. At the end of the race, the best placed in the general standings will win their enrolment for the Dakar 2013.
For the first time, there will be four vehicles bearing the Dakar Challenge Label taking starter’s orders for the Dakar Rally. Two car crews will be chosen on the rallies of Botswana and Egypt, whilst two motorbike riders will be heading to South America from the events in China and Australia. The first opportunity will take place between 23rd and 25th June for amateur car drivers participating in the Toyota 1000 Race Desert. On its roll of honour, the Southern African race that takes place on the tracks of Botswana in particular features a certain Alfie Cox (1993), well before he reached the podium of the Dakar in 1999. One of his successors might take advantage of the opportunity to make a name for him or herself thanks to the Dakar Challenge.
The calendar of Dakar Challenge labelled events:
Ø 23rd to 25th June 2012: Toyota 1000 Race Desert (Botswana) / Open to the car category
Ø September 2012: Taklimakan Rally (China) / Open to the bike category
Ø 21st to 29th September 2012: Australasian Safari (Australia) / Open to the bike category
Ø 29th September to 6th October 2012: Pharaohs Rally (Egypt) / Open to the car category
(*) Entry conditions: to never have participated in the Dakar, nor to have finished in the top 10 of an FIM (bikes) all-terrain rally, nor to have featured on the FIA (cars) list of priority drivers.
