One of many biggest and most gruelling motor sport has been the long-lasting Paris-Dakar Rally however following troubles alongside the route, the Rally is now staged completely in Saudi Arabia – though the title model has been retained. Gus Anyim assess what this loss has meant to the continent and if the rally will be re-incorporated into its pure African habitat.
On nineteenth January, the ultimate competitor crossed the sand dunes of Saudi Arabia to complete the forty sixth Dakar rally. 2024 the fifth 12 months of the race because it was moved from its unique residence in Africa to the Center East.
The occasion, initially known as Paris-Dakar was one of many hardest and most adventurous rally on the planet. It comprised an entire gamut of autos, vehicles, motorbikes and vehicles racing from Paris throughout the Sahara and ending in Dakar, Senegal.
The closely modified autos which needed to battle a few of the worst driving situations wherever together with bone-shaking and suspension destroying routes, harmful sand dunes, excessive daytime temperatures and freezing winds at night time was the final phrase in journey, grit and willpower.
It was additionally extremely photogenic and attracted tens of millions of TV viewers and radio listeners internationally. Scores of journalists and assist autos adopted the race throughout the forbidding terrain.
Frenchman Thierry Sabine based the occasion in having misplaced his approach while racing in a Cote-Cote rally (Good-France to Abidjan-Côte d’Ivoire). The taking individuals from a begin in Paris, to the Southern coast of France earlier than crossing into Algeria in Northern Africa.
Over time, organisers selected completely different crossing factors from Europe, whereas traversing by means of international locations inside North-Western Africa. Ultimately the rally settled on a route throughout Morocco, Mauritania, Western Sahara and eventually Dakar (Senegal).
The 1992 version was very particular – the organisers determined to increase the route all the way in which to Cape City. This is able to open up vastly various landscapes because the rally made it was approach south, from deserts to tropical rain forests, to savannah grasslands, by means of mountains and eventually to Cape City. It was held to mark the change from the nation’s Apartheid state to true democracy with the discharge of Nelson Mandela from jail.
The occasion drew unprecedented international consideration to Africa as journalist, together with New African editor Anver Versi filling each day reviews from the varied international locations they visited and illustrated the peoples and existence they met on the way in which.
Every little thing modified in 2008 when the rally was cancelled following the killing of 4 French vacationers in Mauritania throughout a interval when anti-Western sentiments had been rising. The stark distinction between the massive sums spent on what many Africans thought of a ‘rich-person’s foolish sport’ and grinding poverty in most of the international locations the rally traversed was additionally inflicting a basic adverse view of the occasion.
However, the model has turn out to be so well-known and the occasion drew such giant TV audiences and offered excellent promoting for varied automobile makers, that the organisers moved the occasion to Chile Peru and Argentina in South America from 2010 till 2020 when the occasion was moved to Saudi Arabia.
Though the rally was now confined to the desert kingdom, with a gruelling route operating from desert terrain from within the West of the nation to Yanbu within the East, it has retained its model because the Dakar Rally.
Curiously, though Africa has misplaced the long-lasting rally, Senegal featured in a brand new type of motor sport – Excessive E through which electrical SUVs race in places chosen to boost consciousness for features of the local weather change and to offer social and environmental assist for these places.
Senegal was the situation for the primary occasion in 2021 to attract consideration to the nation’s salt-heavy Lac Rose, typically the ending level of the unique Paris-Dakar rally. With System One champions akin to Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg sponsoring their very own groups, the occasion has been vastly profitable.
Regardless of the controversy surrounding such occasions, significantly the Paris-Dakar, there isn’t a doubt that their absence has left a widely-felt vacuum. They introduced a way of journey and pleasure to the annual calendar, drew the world’s consideration to a optimistic aspect of the continent and allowed locals to have ‘front-row’ seats at international spectacles.
Industrial advantages
Earlier than Paris-Dakar, one other rally on the opposite aspect of the continent – the East African Safari run over three international locations (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) over the Easter holidays had held delight of place with worldwide drivers and groups competing in what was then probably the most gruelling race on the planet.
It later grew to become the Safari Rally confined to Kenya when the nation’s neighbours withdrew their participation and it misplaced a few of its kudos nevertheless it continues to be held yearly and to attract quite a lot of native consideration – and participation as groups and drivers.
As well as, there was the Cote D’ivoire rally, the Kilimanjaro 1000 and so forth.
The query is has Africa misplaced out on the advantages of the multiplier impact – the direct and oblique positive aspects from internet hosting occasions such because the Olympics, the World Cup and worldwide rallies?
For instance, the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia obtained of stories and broadcasting throughout 190 international locations and 70 channels. 560 accredited media representatives offered protection for the occasion, ith seven million followers partaking with Dakar’s social media platforms. The 2023 publicity was valued at $114m with the financial multiplier from supporting the occasion producing considerably extra.
Hundreds of thousands of sponsorship {dollars} have additionally adopted the occasion, which now boasts as most important companions.
Peru, host to the 2019 rally, put the financial impression at over $130m with $300m of media worth for the nation. The business worth of the present Dakar rally in Saudi Arabia doubtless exceeds this.
Slightly than a direct comparability to the African collection. Maybe the present Dakar rally (Saudi Arabia) gives a view of the occasion’s potential to draw and nurture funding.
Africa’s wealthy historical past of racing
Though the official Dakar Rally could have completely relocated to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Excessive E may but return to Senegal. However for rally purists, Africa hs by no means misplaced its rugged allure or irresistible problem.
Two organised Dakar races, The Africa Eco Race and the Actual Method to Dakar, stay true to the unique collection. Starting in Monaco and Paris (France) respectively, each races take adrenaline fuelled rivals by means of Morocco, Mauritania, Western Sahara and Senegal.
The larger of the 2 is the , producing international protection in 153 international locations, on 101 channels with protection throughout 5 continents. Spectacular numbers while not the most important rally occasion on the continent.
In its 2021 race calendar the FIA, motorsport’s governing physique, reinstated Kenya – the Safari Rally, to the World Rally Championship (WRC). It adopted a attributable to adversarial findings by the FIA on points of monetary assist and security.
The WRC instructions a TV viewers of 841m (2022), 6.87m social media followers and 473m video views. The attain was additionally mirrored within the findings of Kenya’s Tourism and Analysis Institute, which assessed the impression of the rally. A internet financial profit to the nation of was recorded, while supporting 24,758 jobs.
The African Rally Championship, an additional collection ruled by the FIA, gives extra rally motion throughout Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda and Burundi.
Speciality meets just like the nonetheless continues to thrill race followers. Revived in 2003, and with homage to the unique 1953 race, this Kenyan traditional automobile rally skilled a resurgence in recognition, demonstrating a wholesome urge for food for motorsport in Africa.
Future prospects
The chance to host any worldwide sporting occasion comes at a price. Industrial concerns of race organisers typically outweigh nostalgia and custom. Codecs should be refreshed, and competing hosts emerge.
The Dakar rally is not any completely different. As promoters throughout F1 ( to WRC ( can attest – and not using a prepared authorities ready to underwrite the price of internet hosting, the bid is more likely to fail.
African governments could level to the remnants of overspend from the South African World Cup, although taken in isolation it maybe misses the purpose on how holistically funding ought to be thought of.
As an early pioneer, the Africa Eco Race wove neighborhood initiatives into their identification, with and solar energy infrastructure in Nouakchott (Mauritania). Excessive E, beneath its ‘race for the planet ’ slogan, went additional with the planting of deliberate, alongside academic programmes in Senegal.
Investments in legacy initiatives and neighborhood infrastructure will be important for uplifting a brand new era. Elements {that a} facilitative physique such because the ought to think about.
A alternative is looming for the official race. Break the affiliation with Dakar, and Africa, altogether or take significant steps to re-incorporate Africa into the occasion.
Both route may present the stimulus for Africa to obtain a brand new motorsports pushed enhance – one that features a extra formidable and far-reaching set of legacy initiatives. The willingness of governments to reignite Africa as an off-road racing vacation spot will play a pivotal function. A possibility beckons.
