Dakar: return to Africa?

However, West Africa no longer appears to be a possible solution. Initially, the Dakar most often crossed Morocco and Mauritania before arriving in Senegal. But, after the threats hovering over the rally- raid two years ago, the management of the Dakar decided to cancel the 2008 edition before heading to South America in 2009. Since then, faced with the desire of the Moroccan, Mauritanian and Senegalese governments to welcome a major rally-raid, the Africa Eco Race has come to establish itself in West Africa, linking Dakar as it did? the Dakar.

After a 2009 edition in Argentina which was not very convincing, the organizers traced the 2010 route through Argentina and Chile, including a week in the Atacama desert, when it had only been touched upon last year. But, despite the relative satisfaction of the drivers and the popular success of this edition, it could be that the most famous rally-raid returns to its original continent.

« We have two official proposals from the Argentine and Chilean governments, as we have received three letters of invitation from the Tunisian, Libyan and Egyptian governments., declared the director of the Dakar to AFP. Honestly, the Dakar is not returning to Africa as I speak to you. It is at the crossroads of two tracks. We will decide which one to take in the coming weeks. »

On the emotional side, many enthusiasts would like the Dakar to return to the place of its origin, but on the pragmatic level, Argentina and Chile have the advantage of being a more reliable and reasonable choice. “ It's going to be a terrible choice, confirms Lavigne. We will have to put on the table all the decision-making elements that can allow us to know what we are going to do in the future.. » The first criteria will be “ media coverage, the desire of runners, the economic aspect » but also security and popular enthusiasm. However, Chile and Argentina have clearly shown their commitment to returning to the Dakar on their soil and have been able to provide the means for almost impeccable security.

Beyond that, if for most of the drivers, this edition was a good test, the candidates for victory did not find the difficulties they expected. “ If I have a choice, without thinking about geopolitical problems, it would be a traditional Dakar with very tough stages in Mauritania. This is what I prefer », conceded Stéphane Peterhansel, nine times winner of the Dakar, six times on a motorbike, three times in a car, each time in Africa.

But the BMW driver does not regret this South American edition, which was able to offer interesting terrain and a varied route. “ It was a beautiful Dakar, where we really enjoyed riding, with beautiful countries. In East Africa, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, I don't think it's much more interesting than here. »

So, East Africa, West Africa, South America? And why not in North America? “ The Dakar is a nomadic event by definition, underlines Etienne Lavigne. What is certain is that if we go to Africa next year, we will come back here sooner or later. And that if we stay here next year, we will come back to Africa later. And maybe one day we'll surprise you even more. The United States, why not? We could imagine things in California. »