The 'Dakar'

[evilC]

...is currently in progress.

I seem to recall it elicited a surprising amount of hatred on here, last time it was mentioned. Not sure why - it's no more or less a rich man's plaything than most other big motorsport categories. Anyway...

I love it, though - one of the three big annual events on my personal sporting calendar (with the Tour de France and the Superbowl being the others). I just wish that highlights were available on terrestrial TV over here. I think it's British Eurosport only, though.

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

The 'Dakar'

I don't recall it receiving 'hatred' as much as incredulity that the "Paris-Dakar" rally was now being held in South America.

Surely they've not taken it back to West Africa now with, er, you know, the other stuff now going on there?

[ursus arctos]

The 'Dakar'

Oh crap.

A Polish motorcycle competitor has died already.

Here's this year's course:

[Wouter D]

The 'Dakar'

evilC wrote: I love it, though - one of the three big annual events on my personal sporting calendar (with the Tour de France and the Superbowl being the others). I just wish that highlights were available on terrestrial TV over here. I think it's British Eurosport only, though.

Me too. One of the Dutch TV channels broadcasts an hour-long daily highlights show. Sadly, I haven't found anything similar here in Germany.

[Felicity, I guess so]

The 'Dakar'

I think it's its historical association with French imperialism that sets many people's teeth on edge.

I'll link to Renaud's song on the subject if I can find it (which'll be appropriate in respect and solidarity, as he was financially involved in relaunching Charlie Hebdo in the 90s).

EDIT: Et voilà:

500 connards sur la ligne de départ

[Wouter D]

The 'Dakar'

Well, to me it's more about people driving machines through some of the most beautiful and unforgiving landscapes available on this planet. And that's mint. I can appreciate a few trucks battling against sand dunes on my TV while it's a cold dark January night here on this continent.

I appreciate that it's not like that for everybody.

[Twilight Johnny Atom]

The 'Dakar'

http://www.africarace.com/en/

Alternative event. Some footage being shown on Motors TV now. Only a few days to go so missed most of it unfortunately.

[Third rate Leszno]

The 'Dakar'

Love the Eurosport Dakar coverage, it's a highlight of my televised sporting year.

On the driving side, very impressed with Al Rajhi, saw him competing in IRC/WRC about 4 years ago and had him pegged as another Al Qassimi, all the gear and no idea - but recently in the WRC he's shown genuine pace and it seems he's doing the same here.

One of my mates is a rally navigator at a decent level and he's got ambitions (together with his regular driver) of doing Dakar in 2020. So, I have 4 years to persuade Mrs TrL that we should spend that years holiday budget (and a lot more!) on two weeks in South America so that I can be team photographer if their plans come to fruition.....