Die Dakar macht den Sprung über den grossen Teich – aber Afrika lockt trotzdem mit Dakar-feeling. Und Hubert Auriol bringt eine neue Rallye nach Dakar. Nachdem er bei der Heroes Legend seine Ideen offensichtlich nicht mit den anderen Beteiligten unter einen Hut bringen konnte trennten sich deren Wege and here she comes…

The first edition of AFRICA RACE®, the new African challenge created by Hubert AURIOL, three-time winner of the Paris-Dakar, will take place from the 26th December 2008 to the 11th January 2009. With the support of the relevant federations and the partnership of the African authorities, this international challenge will go back to the core values of traditional rally events.

Having started in a significant European city, the finish of the race will be judged in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, after several thousand kilometres journeyed across Morocco and Mauritania with a rest day taking place in Chinguetti. This adventure in the heart of Africa and the countries that have formed the legend of rally events will bring together both amateurs and professionals (motorbikes, quads, cars and trucks).

The fundamental aim of this new race is clear: to allow each competitor to experience a ‘personal’ adventure in a great international rally. A sporting challenge but at the same time a superb human adventure in the heart of a continent with a thousand faces.

" I’ve had the good fortune to have experienced 30 years of outstanding adventures in Africa. Answering the request of the African countries to organise AFRICA RACE®, is an opportunity for me to give back to them what Africa has given to me".

Eine tolle Geschichte, wenn ich nicht schon für die Argentinien Rallye angemeldet gewesen würe durchaus einen Gedanken wert. Doch im Laufe der letzten Monate haben sich auch meine Trüume veründert, die in Lissabon so plötzlich geplatzt waren.