La Rioja (Argentina) (EFE) .- The 38 years of life of the Dakar Rally in 28 different countries transform this adventure competition into a registered trademark that starts the international sports calendar every year.
However, the emergence for this 2016 of the ‘Silk Way’, a competition that will unite Moscow and Beijing, generates a feeling of extreme discomfort.
The history of this ‘Silk Way’ has its origins in Dakar itself, since between 2009 and 2011 this competition was born as one of the many Series organized by the Amaury Sports Organization (ASO) in the world.
With Russia as a major market, this event in Eurasian territory was part of the great Dakar Series family that also included the Central European Rally (2008), PAX Rally (2008), Desafío Litoral (2012), Desafío Inca (2013/14), Desafío Ruta 40 (2010/15), Desafío Guaraní (2014/15), and the recently announced for 2017, Merzouga Rally on the return to Africa.
However, after the ‘divorce’ of the ‘Silk Way’ with ASO, and after two editions in 2012 and 2013, this competition announced a stellar relaunch for this year joining Moscow and Beijing, with the potential of two of the most important economies in the world. world gathered in the same route, which will take place in 15 stages between July 8 and 24.
«It is a new competition, with a great economic potential that intends to be installed in the calendar. However, the Dakar has tradition, history, a work team that has demonstrated efficiency and reliability for both competitors and the public that cannot be purchased with money, “they told EFE from the organization.
Those were the few words about the official return of the ‘Silk Way’, since one of the slogans before starting this eighth South American edition was to avoid any type of reference.
The exodus of some people with a history and trajectory in ASO to the new Russian structure, such as Frederic Lequien, Luc Alphand and Chris Rodrigo, also represents a ‘hard blow to the ego’, since they will contribute in their new work the ‘know how’ acquired on the Dakar.
Unlike the race of French origin that contains four categories (motorcycles, quads, cars and trucks), the ‘Silk Way’ is a competition reserved only for cars and trucks, in a registration that is already underway.
The main car brands such as Mini, Peugeot, Toyota and Ford, and Kamaz, Iveco and Maz trucks have already expressed an interest in participating in the Eurasian competition, led by Vladimir Chagin, who last year already made three presentations of the event in Paris, Moscow and Beijing.
“It will be an interesting new date on the calendar with two markets as attractive and large as Russia and China,” they told EFE from one of the leading teams, while another added: “It will allow us to test the models in the race for the great objective of the year that will continue to be the Dakar 2017 ».
This event will mark on a scale what happened in 2008 with the ‘Africa Race’, organized by Hubert Auriol, who since the start of the Dakar from the continent maintains a competition date, which has a special interest in the ecological aspect.
With eight editions, the ‘Africa Race’ brings together professionals and amateurs every year in the territories of Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, on old routes so often used by the Dakar.
The legendary Dakar maintains its unique aura and history, but is increasingly uncomfortable with these new races that threaten its absolute dominance of adventure racing on a global level. EFE
The ‘Silk Way’, the competition that bothers the world dominance of the Dakar
