Safety has priority
It is with great regret that Volkswagen acknowledges the cancellation of the 30th Dakar Rally. "The safety of every single participant has absolute priority and for this reason Volkswagen completely and utterly endorses the decision made by the organisers ASO to cancel the start of the Dakar Rally originally scheduled for 5 January,” explains ... [ more ]

Very disappointed by cancellation of Dakar
This year's Dakar Rally has been cancelled because security concerns. Today in Lisbon, one day prior to the start, A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation), officially cancelled the 30th edition of the Lisbon-Dakar Rallye.

Although Dakar Rally director Etienne Lavigne has met with Mauritanian and French officials and ... [ more ]

Official Press Release
After different exchanges with the French government - in particular the Ministry for Foreign Affairs - , and based on their firm recommendations, the organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally, scheduled from the 5th to the 20th of January between Lisbon and Senegal's capital.

Based ... [ more ]

Dakar : News from Scrutineering
The aim: a record. After having had to quit last year, the Czar Vladimir Chagin, commander in chief of the Kamaz army is back in Lisbon more motivated than ever. The Russian firmly intends to steal his crown back from Hans Stacey, and reach the legendary record of Karel Loprais, i.e. 6 victories in the truck category of the trickiest ... [ more ]

At Scrutineering
The four crews and cars* that will spearhead the Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart Team's bid to secure a record eighth consecutive Dakar win for Mitsubishi have successfully completed the pre-start scrutineering formalities which took place this morning in Lisbon. The four Pajero/Montero Evolution MPR13s have now been placed in parc ferme – on the ... [ more ]

Dakar : News from Scrutineering
It's on the occasion of a press conference looking like a demonstration of strength that Team Dakar USA put on a true arrival show on the 2008 edition of the Dakar. Present since last night at the rally scrutineering, both pilots Robby Gordon and Ronn Bailey, the only ones driving a Hummer in this edition, unveiled their respective ... [ more ]

Dakar : News from Scrutineering
A new car, a new challenge". After a first conclusive experience next to René Metge last year, Yvan Muller is embarking upon an even more difficult Dakar. It is indeed behind the wheels of a one-seater buggy that the Alsatian showed up at scrutineering in Lisbon.

"This is a whole different challenge. It's completely different". ... [ more ]