Dakar 2008 cancelled!?

[Nortad]

From BBC online news

"The 2008 Dakar Rally has been cancelled because of safety concerns in the African republic of Mauritania.
Four French tourists were murdered in Mauritania on 24 December, which led to the French government advising against any travel to the country.

Nine of the rally's stages were due to pass through Mauritania.

The event's organisers, the Amaury Sport Organisation, said there had been "direct threats against the race issued by terrorist groups".

The annual car and motorcycle marathon had been due to start in Lisbon on 5 January with the finish coming in Dakar on 20 January.

606: DEBATE
This is unexpected and will have serious consequences on the future of the rally

Chacor

"Following several consultations with the French government - in particular the ministry of foreign affairs - and taking into account its firm recommendations, the organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally," said an ASO statement.

Daniel Bilalian, head of sport for event broadcasters France Televisions, added that "wisdom had prevailed".

"If the slightest incident had happened, it would have been the credibility of the ASO that would have been at stake," he said.

The Dakar Rally has been held uninterrupted since 1979 although in the past, stages have been cancelled.

Mitsubishi's Stephane Peterhansel claimed his third Dakar Rally title when he won the event last year."

Its seems a few Dutch entrants are already on their way home, and, the insurance will pay all the entry fees payied by the contestants.

[Soup]

wow that's intense, I've never even heard of that country, too bad it's too late for them to move those stages of the rally.

[thogaa]

That sucks big time. Maybe I should combat dress my Unimog
and drive down there myself and kick the shit out of those ****ers?
I hate terrorists!

[Nortad]

I dont know why they are scared?

A buch of guys with 30year old ak47 in a ´81 toyota pick up?

They just sifht down to 3rd floor it and their gone and safe

[GTSAdam]

lol. If only it were that easy.

I think sense prevailed

[UKunt]

haha yer there cars are fast.but there not faster then a ak47 bullet...

[EVILZ33]

wish they could detour it somehow i really like that rally

[static]

i read about the family killed there for money robbery , 2bad they've cancelled the rally

[bam 240sx]

that really blows

[Nortad]

I had a friend there watching, and he said by 10am the tecnical inspections that should last all day were suspended, and even before it was officialy anounced that there were people packing up an going home.

There was alot of crying and disperation because most of the contestants are amateurs that only do this event, and they put all their money, and sponsor money in this and only get thier money investe here paid after the rally. Others only had enough money to get to Lisbon, because during the event they are taken cared of by the organization and dont have enough to get back home.

To ahve an idea the entry fee alone is 30K in Euros fro each car, and most peolpe dont even race their own car, they rent out to other at a cost of over 150K € for a Mid class car like a Land Cruiser diesel. The entry fee is the only thing going to be returned for sure to the contestants, but for sure the sponsors are gonna want their money back, and the entry fee are gonna be used to pay them.

For alot of people its a years worth of work gone down the drain, and for other their banckrupt for sure...

[Headracer]

Keep in mind all the motorcycle competitors... The guys in cars stand a reasonable chance of being able to survive an ambush as long as it doesn't involve large amounts of explosives. All those nutters running alone on a bike? Not so much.