This year, the Dakar has seen an increase in entries, which have been restricted in order to maintain the level of safety and ensure greater enjoyment on the race. The main highlights…
Entries for Dakar 2012 took off as soon as they opened in mid-May. A few weeks later, the organisers announced the end of the registration period for motorcycles and quad bikes, and in order to keep the maximum number of riders to 218, they were obliged to make a selection. The same thing happened in October in the car and truck categories, with numbers being restricted respectively to 171 and 76 vehicles. In total, 465 drivers are expected to arrive for the technical and administrative procedures in Mar del Plata from 29th December 2011.
Changes to the Dakar over the past ten years have resulted in an internationalisation of the participants. By moving to South America, the rally has naturally attracted drivers from that continent. Although drivers from Argentina, Chile and Peru dominate the South America contingent, the presence of ten Brazilian vehicles plus drivers from Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela, means that almost the whole continent is represented. Although it takes place far from their homelands, the Dakar also continues to attract European drivers. Their presence has increased both in absolute and in relative terms.
The substantial number of newcomers on the rally may also significantly increase competition at the top, as the best of them are often well-placed in the overall rankings. In the motorcycle category, this is perhaps what is in store for Felipe Zanol, the enfant terrible of the Brazilian race tracks, Johnny Aubert, two-time World Enduro Champion or Matt Lagrive, three-time winner of the Bol d’Or. It will also be interesting to see whether Adam Malisz, the Polish driver who has won multiple Olympic ski jumping medals will fly as easily over the dunes as he does over the ski jumps. The 2012 rally will also see the return, after several years of absence, of Johnny Campbell (motorcycle), Carlos Sousa, Carlo De Gavardo, Thierry Magnaldi (single-seater buggy) and the former winner of the truck category Hans Stacey, on his first visit to South America.
Total number of vehicles entered: 465 (+ 15 %) Cars: 171 - Motorcycles: 185 - Quad bikes: 33 - Trucks: 76 50 nationalities at the race start 11 women have entered the rally (in all categories) First-time competitors: 30 % in the motorcycle and quad bike categories 24 % in the car category
For its third edition on the South American continent, the Dakar will be continuing its relationship with the crowds who discovered it, adopted it and now are demonstrating their loyalty to it : 5 million spectators came to see the event. All the studies conducted have revealed the appreciation of the public and the pulling power of the two host countries. They also confirm the views of Enrique Meyer, the Argentinean Secretary of State for Tourism, who already stated in 2009 that, “the Dakar has been the biggest promotional tool for tourism in Argentina’s history”.
Argentina: 3.5 millions spectators
Chile: 1.5 million spectators
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