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THE 2015 DAKAR: CHALLENGING EVERY DAY For the sixth time in its history, the Dakar will offer its competitors a loop-shaped course. The drivers and teams will have to cover more than 9,000 kilometres to return to Buenos Aires having set off from there, including around 4,500 kilometres of special stages where they will have to distinguish themselves. Above all, the organisation of the day of 11th January will be based on an exceptional programme, with three races taking place on three entirely different routes. The 2015 Dakar will also be innovative with specific rest days according to the different vehicle categories.
DAY DATE
TOWN START
MOTORCYCLE / QUAD BIKE RACE KM
TOWN FINISH
Road Stage Section
SS
Total
CAR RACE KM Road Stage Section
Total
Road Stage Section
SS
Total
S
3/1
S
4/1
Buenos Aires
Villa Carlos Paz
1
663
175
838
1
663
170
833
1
663
175
838
M
5/1
Villa Carlos Paz
San Juan
2
107
518
625
2
107
518
625
2
315
331
646
T
6/1
San Juan
Chilecito
3
437
220
657
3
258
284
542
3
258
284
542
W
7/1
Chilecito
Copiapo
4
594
315
909
4
594
315
909
4
594
174
768
T
8/1
Copiapo
Antofagasta
5
239
458
697
5
239
458
697
5
239
458
697
F
9/1
Antofagasta
Iquique
6
369
319
688
6
392
255
647
6
370
255
625
S 10/1
Iquique
Uyuni (Car) Marathon (Truck)
7
396
321
717
7
101
335
436
S 11/1
Uyuni (Car) Marathon (Truck) Iquique (Motorcycle)
Iquique (Car/Truck) Uyuni (Motorcycle)
7
396
321
717
8
24
781
805
8
0
271
271
M 12/1
Uyuni
Iquique
8
24
781
805
T 13/1
Iquique
Calama
9
88
451
539
9
88
451
539
9
88
451
539
W 14/1
Calama
Marathon (Motorcycle) Salta (Car/Truck)
10
520
371
891
10
501
359
860
10
501
359
860
T 15/1
Marathon (Motorcycle) Salta (Car/Truck)
Termas Rio Hondo
11
161
351
512
11
326
194
520
11
326
194
520
F 16/1
Termas Rio Hondo
Rosario
12
726
298
1 024
12
726
298
1 024
12
726
298
1 024
S 17/1
Rosario
Buenos Aires
13
219
174
393
13
219
174
393
13
219
174
393
S 17/1
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SS
TRUCK RACE KM
START PODIUM
REST DAY IQUIQUE
REST DAY IQUIQUE
BUENOS AIRES
FINISH PODIUM 4 543 4 752 9 295
TOTAL
4 533 4 578
9 111
4 400 3 759 8 159
Key: Road Section: a route that mostly follows the road network which the competitors must take to reach the start of the special stage, or the bivouac once the special has been completed. SS: Selective Section, also known as a “special”. This is the portion of the stage during which the vehicles enrolled in the race are timed. 3
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SHAPED BY TIME When it crossed the Atlantic and was faced with a new setting, the Dakar was obliged to become more flexible and to adapt to its surroundings, yet remain underpinned by the principles which have ensured its success: exploring the world’s deserts, extreme endurance, and bringing together top level athletes and amateurs honing their performance in a shared adventure. Six years ago, we discovered South America, our eyes brimming with desire, openness and innocence. The last edition, one of the most selective in the entire history of the event, was also one of the most exceptional, in terms of structure and variety. It provided riders, drivers and their teams with routes which responded precisely to the needs and abilities of their vehicles, and renewed the format of the race by offering more marathon stages. These subtle manoeuvres ensure the Dakar remains both original and demanding. The participants, first and foremost, are highly discerning when it comes to the challenges they undertake. The Dakar is the Everest of motor sports and Peugeot is driven by the fundamental desire to conquer new heights and provide a sensational experience for all. From the most structured teams to isolated adventurers, participants all take great care and pay ever more attention to preparing for the big event. The competitors must take full measure of the Dakar to maximise their chances of completing this off-road tour of South America’s deserts. Humility and strength will be required in equal measure to cross the finish line in Buenos Aires, two weeks after setting off from there.
Étienne Lavigne Director of the Dakar
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THE DAKER’S VALUES A human adventure Having become an international event, which gathers together men and women of more than 50 different nationalities, the Dakar draws on a thirst for interaction and the open-mindedness of its competitors, who all crave to explore the deserts of the world and to push themselves to the limit. The places on the final podium represent an exceptional challenge, sometimes that of a lifetime. Apart from the standings, all the competitors are motivated by this resolute desire, an almost crazy dream to finish the race. Whether they are motorcyclists, car drivers, truckers, or quad riders, they all share this ambition, a feeling that brings them together. The tradition of solidarity, a principle which is one of the pillars of the “Dakar Spirit�, stems from this shared passion. They all speak the same language.
An extreme competition The Dakar ranks as one of the greatest challenges of all extreme competitions. It is the pinnacle of the motor sports discipline and inspires adventurers as much now as it ever has. More than just a simple question of racing and speed, the Dakar requires off-piste navigational skills and consistency. In off-road races, endurance prevails and the slightest mistake costs dearly. Coping with the living conditions, managing fatigue, and weighing up the risks of the race can only be achieved by a combination of peak physical condition and impeccable technical skills. Over the past thirty-six years, this combination of physical rigour and technical performance has appealed to champions and little known competitors from a wide variety of backgrounds, all wanting to experience and make their mark on this extraordinary event.
Discovery Just as it focused attention on the deserts of Africa for some thirty years, since 2009, the Dakar has offered participants the chance to discover the wide open spaces of South America. It gives drivers from around the world the chance to plunge into the heart of nature in a majestic setting which changes on a daily basis. The richness of these deserts and the almost endless possibilities for new race routes are combined with the opportunity to discover the populations and cultures whose roots lie deep in the civilisations which preceded us. Between seven and eight hundred competitors come together every year for this race where competition and help go hand in hand, which is watched on television by a billion viewers in 190 countries.
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THE KEY DATES OF THE 2015 DAKAR For many of the competitors the first important stage of the Dakar will not be in South America, but on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, at the port of Le Havre. Once the countdown has begun, it will be in the Argentinean capital that the competitors from around the world will then come together for the administrative and technical formalities before the protocol ceremony on the podium on 3rd January.
20th and 21st November: the port of Le Havre Technical pre-checks and loading of the European competitors’ vehicles. A total of more than 700 vehicles from all categories will take to the sea aboard the MV Grande Amburgo for the 21-day crossing.
30th and 31st December: Euroamerica Port The arrival of the Dakar! Vehicles which have travelled from Le Havre will be picked up at the Euroamerica Port, close to Buenos Aires.
1st, 2nd and the morning of 3rd January: “TECNOPOLIS” Happy New Year! Just a few hours after midnight, the first competitors and their race and assistance vehicles will complete administrative and technical formalities at the Tecnopolis, the big exhibition centre to the north-east of Buenos Aires. The South American competitors are expected first, on the morning of 1st January.
3rd January: Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires A huge crowd is expected outside “La Casa Rosada”, the presidential palace, to cheer on the competitors on the start podium, between 3 pm and 10.30 pm.
4th January: Buenos Aires - Villa Carlos Paz First stage of the race, first thrills… the Dakar has well and truly begun.
10th and 12th January: Iquique, rest for the marathon participants The motorcycles and quad bikes will rest at Iquique on 10th January, followed by the cars and trucks on 12th January.
17th January: Arrival in Buenos Aires The bravest competitors will celebrate the end of this extraordinary adventure at the Tecnopolis, surrounding by what is expected to be a huge crowd.
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THE 2015 DAKAR: MARATHON STAGES FOR EVERYONE Marathon stages: pure off-road style The Dakar tests competitors and their vehicles in extreme endurance. The marathon stages, where drivers cannot use their assistance teams, are a particular test of their ability to independently manage their mechanics. This year, cars and trucks, which have not taken part in a marathon stage since 2005, will have to tackle this additional difficulty. Split over two days, a marathon stage involves some of the competitors spending the night in an isolated bivouac. The vehicles are taken into a closed area, where only help between competitors is authorised. Despite the technical challenge which this constraint represents, the drivers also enjoy a different, highly convivial atmosphere. In Uyuni, it will be the car teams which will spend a night apart, followed by the motorcyclists and quad bikers the next day. The truck category will have its own dedicated bivouac in the middle of the Atacama Desert. To make organisation of the marathon stages possible, a new system has been set up at the heart of the extended stay in Iquique. So, on 11th January, three races will take place on three different routes and in two countries. This meant there was also a need to incorporate staggered rest days for the motorcyclists and quad bikers.
Different routes: to demonstrate their full potential For several years now, the organisers have used their in-depth knowledge of the South American terrain to refine the routes and offer specific features for each category. For the 2015 edition, the motorcyclists and quad bikers will face an additional difficulty, with a particularly dense second week: four marathon days in total. 35% of the kilometres they cover without the cars and trucks will be in the form of special stages. Different routes and rest days also gives the car teams the opportunity to fully demonstrate their potential, both in terms of driving and navigation. With 1,382km of open space (a third of the special stages) the cars will be able to compete without being slowed down by overtaking... and will also enjoy routes on virgin terrain. The truck drivers will find themselves in this situation for more than 600km.
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2015 ROUTE: COMING FULL CIRCLE! The only way to complete the Dakar is through a combination of endurance and determination. The competitors will have an additional problem to resolve on the 9,000 kilometres to be covered in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia: adopting and maintaining the right momentum, while the route continuously endeavours to break it. Depending on the day, both the setting and the pace will change, moving from rocky routes to desert dunes and from endurance stages to extreme sprints. Given the competitors’ inability to recognize clearly identified sections, in particular they must capitalise upon their ability to adapt… and to control their stamina. The marathon stages will definitely remind them of this basic rule of off-road races.
ARGENTINA
Population: 40.6 million inhabitants Surface area: 2, 766, 890 sq. km Capital: Buenos Aires Currency: Argentinean peso Motto: In Unity and Freedom The leading lights of Argentinean sport: Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi (football), Guillermo Vilas, Gabriela Sabatini, Juan Martín Del Potro (tennis), Manu Ginobili (basketball), Juan Manuel Fangio (motor racing), Angel Cabrera (golf), Carlos Monzon (boxing), Hugo Porta (rugby) Argentinean drivers have always done their country proud when representing them in the rally. In recent years, their flag bearers have proved their ability to succeed in almost every category. The motorcyclist Javier Pizzolito kept his promises by joining the ranks of the Top 10 in 2013. And the Patronelli saga, which suffered a dramatic set-back last January, has gone down in history, with Marcos and Alejandro winning four trophies between 2010 and 2013. Above all, the Albiceleste colours were gloriously defended in the car category by Orlando Terranova in January, who confirmed that he is a real contender for the podium by finishing in 5th position in the final overall standings for the second time in a row.
Sunday 4th January • Stage 1 • Buenos Aires - Villa Carlos Paz Motorcycles-quad-trucks • Liaison sections: 663 km • Special stage: 175 km Cars • Liaison sections: 663 km • Special stage: 170 km A huge preliminary stage! The competitors will be rapidly plunged into the heart of the Argentinean countryside. The combination of the route’s different features means that there will be something for everyone, while sticking to relatively simple criteria, for the time being. Fast tracks coupled with sharp bends will divide up the vehicles, according to the levels of the drivers, who will be tested in an exciting environment which marks this first special stage, but without singling out any particular category. At the end of this warm-up, the day will finish with a long liaison section to the first bivouac.
Monday 5th January • Stage 2 • Villa Carlos Paz - San Juan Motorcycles-quads-cars • Liaison sections: 107 km • Special stage: 518 km Trucks • Liaison sections: 315 km • Special stage: 331 km The longest stage Any rest will be short-lived, because before reaching San Juan, the competitors will have a particularly busy schedule: quite simply the longest special stage in the rally, which is varied enough to unsettle even the most experienced of drivers. Hard terrain at the start of the race will be followed by dusty sections in the middle of the day and a sandy stretch to finish. This is the first real test, which can only be successfully overcome through constant vigilance.
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Tuesday 6th January • Stage 3 • San Juan - Chilecito Motorcycles-quads • Liaison sections: 437 km • Special stage: 220 km Cars-trucks • Liaison sections: 258 km • Special stage: 284 km A vision of red The pressure which competitors faced the day before (and late into the night for some of them), will partly ease off on the road to Chilecito. The shorter and less intense stage will allow them to enjoy their majestic surroundings. The red earth tracks, overlooking steep peaks and plunging down into canyons, will take the Dakar through one of the most beautiful regions of Argentina. But no-one should be tempted to sit back and enjoy the view, particularly on the motorcycle and quad bike routes which include some gruelling sections. With thousands of stones to be avoided, it will only take one to ruin this magnificent day!
CHILE
Population: 16.7 million inhabitants Surface area: 756, 950 sq. km Capital: Santiago de Chile Currency: Chilean peso Motto: By reason or by force The leading lights of Chilean sport: Marcelo Salas, Ivan Zamorano (football), Fernando Gonzalez, Nicola Massu, Marcelo Rios (tennis), “Chaleco” Lopez (motorcycling), Ignacio Casale (quad) From the Atacama Desert, renowned for being the most arid in the world, to the Andes Cordillera, the Dakar’s drivers and teams have experienced the extensive variety of landscapes which Chile has to offer for the past six years. As for sport, the Chileans have become used to seeing the rally through the eyes of their favourite driver, Francisco Lopez, winner of ten stages since the Dakar has taken place in his country. After “Chaleco” retired in the last edition, all hopes were pinned on Ignacio Casale, another outstanding competitor who managed to fire up the whole nation all the way to the podium in Valparaiso by winning in the quad category. After giving Chile its first victory in the Dakar, the young and ambitious quad rider now wants to defend his position!
Wednesday 7th January • Stage 4 • Chilecito - Copiapo Motorcycles-quads-cars • Liaison sections: 594 km • Special stage: 315 km Trucks • Liaison sections: 594 km • Special stage: 174 km At night the route is twice as hard! The competitors will have to prove they are worthy of entering Chile! A very early start and a climb to a height of 4,800 metres will precede the border crossing at Paso San Francisco. The really challenging section will begin with a gradual warm-up on the mining tracks, before drivers are faced with the reality of the Atacama Desert. The route here is open and sandy. Over the course of the last 40 kilometres, the giant dunes and basins of Copiapo will have to be tackled and for many this will be at night. Overcoming them will require finesse and instinct.
Thursday 8th January • Stage 5 • Copiapo - Antofagasta Liaison sections: 239 km • Special stage: 458 km Creating the surprise This is the first of the rare special stages in which all categories will compete. At the start of the race, the most confident drivers will be able to take advantage of the fast tracks to try to move up in the overall standings. But the temptation to do so may be risky, particularly in the hard-to-handle fesh-fesh areas where absolute self-control is the only guarantee of success. Overtaking here requires precision handling to the extreme.
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Friday 9th January • Stage 6 • Antofagasta - Iquique Motorcycles-quads • Liaison sections: 369 km • Special stage: 319 km Cars • Liaison sections: 392 km • Special stage: 255 km Trucks • Liaison sections: 370 km • Special stage: 255 km A celebration in Iquique The route will then climb up the Pacific coast towards Iquique. The motorcycles and quad bikes will cover a few extra kilometres as part of the special stage: a detour will take them into endurance-type terrain and onto mountain ridges with views over the sea. All the competitors will then explore the dunes which run alongside and dominate the coastline. But they won’t arrive at the bivouac via the famous descent. For the first time, the half-way point in the race will be marked on a podium in the centre of Iquique. The encounter between drivers and their fans will be emotional, following the earthquake which affected the region at the start of the year.
BOLIVIA
Population: 10.5 million inhabitants Surface area: 1, 098, 581 sq. km Capital: La Paz/Sucre Currency: Boliviano Motto: United we stand Surrounded by giants, Bolivia has played a singular role in South America’s history. The continent was influenced by the actions of the country’s first president, Simón Bolivar. But above all it has become a major tourist destination due to its geographical features. In addition to its regular visitors, in 2014, Bolivia first played host to the Dakar, which allowed the motorcyclists to discover the majestic Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world. This year, car drivers will also experience this wondrous landscape, and will get a taste of the unique reception which the Bolivians reserve for the rally.
Saturday 10th • Sunday 11th • Monday 12th January Rest days For this exceptional part of the race, marked by the bivouac stop in Iquique and the Bolivian podium in Uyuni, separate rest days will be observed: 10th January for the motorcycles and quads and 12th January for cars and trucks. However, on Sunday 11th January, all the categories will be back on the race, competing in a different stage. Everyone will have taken part in a marathon stage by then.
Stage 7-a • Iquique - Uyuni (cars on 10/01; motorcycles-quads on 11/01) Liaison sections: 396 km • Special stage: 321 km A high altitude affair Numerous difficulties will mark the first part of the Bolivian marathon stage. The cars will tackle it first, followed by the motorcycles the next day. Right from the outset, the long liaison section will mean an early start, followed by a gradual climb to a height of more than 3,500m. Once on the high plateaux, the special stage will begin, with instructions to follow the roadbook with great care, in light of the large number of junctions on the route. One of the challenges of the day could be wear and tear on tyres. Once they have arrived in Uyuni, the competitors will only have completed half of the marathon stage.
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Stage 7-b • Iquique - Marathon Bivouac (trucks on 10/01) Liaison sections: 101 km • Special stage: 335 km Exclusive club for trucks The trucks will once again embark upon a separate marathon stage, with the added bonus of competing on a route which is specifically for them. The leaders’ driving skills in the dunes will make the difference on this first separate day, with long and decisive sandy sections. Once again, they will need to find the right balance between self-control and performance. When they reach their private bivouac, the on-board mechanics will become the key players in this marathon stage.
Stage 8-a • Uyuni - Iquique (cars on 11/01; motorcycles-quads on 12/01) Cars • Liaison sections: 24 km • Special stage: 781 km Motorcycles-quads • Liaison sections: 24 km • Special stage: 781 km The Salar: unconditionally The Dakar bows to the laws of nature. Hence, the weather will decide which route will be taken to leave Bolivia. If it’s dry, the start could take place in the Salar de Uyuni, for a 100km route across a smooth road of white salt: full throttle and foot to the floor! The route then slows down abruptly, with the longest part of the special stage taking place on more technical mountain terrain. The day will end with more than 40km of dunes, concluding with the vertiginous descent to Iquique.
Stage 8-b • Marathon Bivouac - Iquique (trucks on 11/01) Liaison sections • 0 km • Special stage: 271 km Twice as much sand For the first time in the history of the Dakar, three races will take place on the same day on three totally different routes! For the trucks, there will be twice as much sand for this second separate day, and the return to Iquique is bound to have its fair share of vehicles getting blocked in the dunes. Any ground gained during the marathon stage may be decisive in the battle for the category title.
Tuesday 13th January • Stage 9 • Iquique - Calama Liaison sections: 88 km • Special stage: 451 km Watch out for your bodywork For this farewell session to the Atacama Desert, all the competitors will come together once again for the special stage, with fifty-odd kilometres over sand and dunes. They should revel in these sensations because the next stage will put both drivers and their teams into much less comfortable positions. The routes have suffered the rages of time and will be equally harsh on them: frequent potholes and bumps combined with the narrowness of the tracks will expose their vehicles’ bodywork to scratches.
Wednesday 14th January • Stage 10 • Calama - Salta Motorcycles-quads • Liaison sections: 520 km • Special stage: 371 km Cars-trucks • Liaison sections: 501 km • Special stage: 359 km Breathtaking The motorcyclists and quad bikers will set off for their second marathon stage! After the Chile-Argentina border, this time the day’s special stage will start on the Salinas Grandes, more than 3,600m above sea level. The altitude should curb the competitors’ enthusiasm and cool down their engines. The more technical final phase will separate the toughest of them from the rest. For the liaison section, the route will then follow the Paso de l’Acay, at an altitude of 4,970m.
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Thursday 15th January • Stage 11 • Salta - Termas de Rio Hondo Motorcycles-Quads • Liaison sections: 161 km • Special stage: 351 km Cars-Trucks • Liaison sections: 326 km • Special stage: 194 km
Did you say tiredness? The rally will continue on two separate routes, following the famous Ruta 40 and winding through its magnificent landscapes. Drivers won’t have time to relax on these fast routes though: the fatigue which will have accumulated by the 11th day of the race (the 4th marathon day for the motorcycles and quads!) will demand maximum concentration on both the route and the road-book. In the cockpits of the cars and trucks, the watchword will also be vigilance; these tracks are often lined with trees.
Friday 16th January • Stage 12 • Termas de Rio Hondo - Rosario Liaison sections: 726 km • Special stage: 298 km Time for an attack The Dakar will spend the night near the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, which regularly hosts the Argentine rounds of the GP and WTCC motorbike championships. But the Dakar’s competitors are set for a long cross-country journey, battling it out in this tension-packed penultimate day. A combative driver could still shake up the leaders’ positions even at this stage. And drivers who become too distracted could be caught by surprise by the surrounding vegetation!
Saturday 17th January • Stage 13 • Rosario - Buenos Aires Liaison sections: 219 km • Special stage: 174 km Right to the end! None of the drivers in the Dakar consider it over until they reach the end of this final day; and for good reason, because every year at least one competitor retires during this final stage. Caution is the name of the game on the fast tracks of the special stage, at the very least for those who haven’t got a position to defend. Because reaching the podium of the 2015 edition at the Technopolis in Buenos Aires is the ultimate goal which they have come to achieve.
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ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE AND SOLIDARITY Environment and heritage THE DAKAR OFFSETS ALL OF ITS DIRECT CARBON EMISSIONS For the last 5 years, the rally has been offsetting all of its direct carbon emissions (reconnaissance trips, organisation, competitors, logistics etc.) The total amount of direct emissions from the Dakar represents 15,500 t.eq.CO2. THE MADRE DE DIOS* PROJECT, AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL SUCCESS Since 2011, US$ 460,000 have been invested in the “Madre de Dios” societal and environmental project to offset the rally’s carbon emissions. Through the different actions it has carried out to fight against the deforestation of the Peruvian part of the Amazon region, the “Madre de Dios” project has been able to save almost 120,000 hectares of forest which would have been destroyed over the course of the next ten years. *www.madrededios.com A JOINTLY DEVISED ROUTE In preparing its route, the Dakar has always devoted particular attention to preserving archaeological and paleontological sites considered as sensitive. To ensure the coherence of the route, close collaboration is necessary between the rally’s organisers and the services concerned by environmental and heritage issues within the Argentinean, Bolivian and Chilean authorities. The organisation’s contacts are: • In Argentina, the Ministry for the Environment and the services of each province hosting the rally • In Bolivia, the Ministry of Culture and the Environment • In Chile, the CMN (Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales – the Council for National Monuments), the MMA (Ministerio Medio Ambiante – the Ministry for the Environment) and regional bodies. CLEANING AND WASTE SORTING • An assessment is carried out after each bivouac: it is performed in agreement with the governmental authorities present. • Waste sorting will be set up at the bivouacs. • Authorized companies will process specific types of waste (used oil, batteries, etc.) • Each of the competitors signs an environmental charter.
SOLIDARITY 1 MILLION DOLLARS FOR UN TECHO • With “Un Techo”, the rally’s action is focused on emergency housing. For the fifth year in a row, the Dakar has provided its support to this charity which implements wide-ranging initiatives. This will still be the case in 2015. HERE ARE THE KEY POINTS OF THE RALLY’S CONTRIBUTION: • 1 million dollars donated since 2009 by the Dakar and its competitors • 300 emergency houses built thanks to these donations • Social reintegration projects set up for families benefitting from such aid (literacy development structures, computer equipment, etc.) • Competitors and sponsors joining in and supporting “Un Techo”, following in the footsteps of the organisers. Additionally, as in 2012, the Qatari Nasser Al Attiyah handed over a cheque for 100,000 dollars.
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KEY FIGURES 2015 competitors 665 competitors 414 vehicles: 164 motorcycles, 48 quad bikes, 138 cars, 64 trucks 53 nationalities, including 3 new ones: India, New Zeland, Taiwan Figures as of the 19/11/2014 that could be modified
3.9 million spectators in 2014 BREAKDOWN: • Argentina: 2.5 million • Bolivia: 410,000 • Chile: 1 million
Economic fallout and reputation for the host countries in 2014 • The economic impact of the 2014 Dakar in Argentina amounted to 150 million dollars. • In Bolivia, the economic impact amounted to 62.3 million dollars. • The economic impact of the 2014 Dakar in Chile amounted to 40 million dollars. • The 1,200 hours of TV broadcasting for all the countries is estimated to be worth 420 million dollars. • In 2013, a public awareness study carried out on representative samples of the population of seven countries (France, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia and South Africa) confirmed increased awareness as the result of the Dakar: more than two thirds of people said that they were familiar with the event. More than 50% of them said that due to the images broadcast, they would like to visit one of these countries one day.
International media coverage • In 2014 70 broadcasters provided 190 countries with images of the rally, corresponding to 1,200 hours of total coverage. • 300 permanent journalists– 143 media – 2,000 accreditations distributed
A digital Dakar: website, social networks, mobile applications, video-sharing website • Website: 78 million page views and 7.2 million unique visitors • Official videos: 4.6 million videos watched • In addition to the content provided on dakar.com, the official Facebook page brought together more than a million fans, while almost 170,000 followers signed up for the Dakar’s Twitter account. • Downloads: 508,000 (IOS, Androïd)
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DAKAR SERIES - DAKAR CHALLENGE: THE WORLD OF OFF-ROAD RACES The Dakar Series label which, since 2008, has been awarded to off-road races sharing the Dakar values and meeting high quality standards was involved in three events in South America in 2014. These races also play host to the Dakar Challenge, which enables exceptional young drivers who distinguish themselves there, to take part in Dakar without having to pay the race’s entry fees. Thus the Dakar 2015 will see around ten rising stars pitting themselves against the discipline’s elite in January.
An additional “Latin Trio” Careful planning of the route, the ability to attract world class drivers and the conditions in which competitors are welcomed are some of the features of the Dakar Series brand. These events enable both experienced drivers and those wanting to discover the Dakar to get a taste of the world of extreme off-road races. In 2014, participants in the Desafio Ruta 40 were able to test their endurance, while the first edition of the Desafio Guarani in Paraguay boasted routes which showcased the art of gruelling tracks. Finally, the preparatory phases in competition conditions continued in the demanding strings of dunes in the Desafio Inca in Peru.
A hotbed of talent Everyone involved in the all-terrain world will have their eyes set on the Dakar. In the biggest competitions in the world, some drivers set themselves the short or medium term goal of taking part in the rally in January. The Dakar organisers are particularly interested in the hotbed of talent competing in rallies in America, Africa and Australia, for example. Five events in total were involved this year in the Dakar Challenge*, which gave less experienced drivers the possibility of winning their place for the Dakar. This, for example, was how the Argentine quad rider Jeremías Gonzalez Ferioli started out in the Dakar in 2014, becoming the youngest “finisher” in history (6th) in Valparaiso, at the age of just 18.
The winners of the 2014 Dakar Challenge, present at the 2015 Dakar: • Desafio Ruta 40 (Argentina): Germán Fernandez (Uruguay - Motorcycle) / Giuliano Giordana (Argentina – Quad) / Lino Sisterna (Argentina - Car) • Tecate Score Baja 500 (Mexico): Tony Gera (USA - Motorcycle) • Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race (Botswana): Brian Baragwanath (South Africa – Quad) • Desafio Guarani (Paraguay): Kevin Echeveste (Argentina - Motorcycle) / Carlos Verza (Argentina – Quad) • Desafio Inca (Peru): Cristobal Guldman (Chile - Motorcycle) / Rodolfo Guillioli (Guatemala – Quad) • Australasian Safari (Australia): Cesare Zacchetti (Italy – Motorcycle) (*) Eligibility conditions: to have never taken part in the Dakar, nor to have been featured among the 10 best competitors in an FIM all-terrain rally or an FIA or ASO “elite” list.
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France Télévisions, the historic partner of the Dakar, will set off for the mountains and the deserts of South America! France Télévisions, which boasts the biggest offer of unscrambled sports programmes, will allow viewers to enjoy the most beautiful images and the most exciting sporting moments of the 2015 Dakar in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia from 4th to 17th January 2015, on its channels and on francetvsport.fr, with three daily programmes devoted to the rally on France 2, France 3 and France 4.
Le Dakar
Every day live on France 4 from 6:35 pm Presented by Gérard Holtz and Luc Alphand One hour of live coverage in the heart of the race, with in particular: • The discovery of the most beautiful landscapes crossed by the Rally in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. • The presentations of Pierre-Étienne Léonard and Thierry Vildary in a car in the heart of the race, as well as those of Jean-François Kerckaert on board one of the organisation’s helicopters, to experience the rally live as close as possible to the drivers. • The reports of Richard Coffin and Gaël Robic in the heart of the bivouac to discover the rally’s stories and obtain the reactions of the technical staff and the competitors in the car, motorbike and truck categories. • An interesting look at all the competition’s key participants with in particular portraits of the women and men taking part in this human and sporting adventure. • In order to be even closer to the competitors, France 4 will follow the development of the Dakar’s route by setting up three separate races for the motorbikes, cars and trucks on particular stages.
Le Journal du Dakar
Every day live on France 3 at 8.05 pm just after Tout le Sport (apart from on Saturday 10th January) Presented by Gérard Holtz
Bivouac
Every day during the third part of the evening on France 2 (apart from on Saturday 10th January) Richard Coffin, Gaël Robic and Luc Alphand will set out to meet competitors in the heart of the bivouac and allow viewers to relive the best moments of the day. These presentations will be highlighted by many reports with anecdotes and stories about the Dakar as well as the renowned dawdlers, amateurs who share their passion for off-road rallies. Viewers will be able to watch the programme again on the following day at 8.05 am on France Ô from 5th to 17th January.
Stade 2
On Sunday 4th and 11th January at 5.30 pm live on France 2 Presented by Céline Géraud With special features dedicated to the Dakar with a live linkup from Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Iquique (Chile). The digital offer of francetv sport .fr The site dedicated to the 2015 Dakar will offer a flow of information in real time as well as a live text of the race stage by stage to allow followers to experience the best moments of the rally and be aware of all the results and standings. The sports newsroom also offers another vision of the Dakar through the features of its special correspondent Xavier Richard in addition to many articles, slideshows and video reports. The different programmes devoted to the 2015 Dakar can be watched again and again on francetvpluzz and on francetv sport.fr. Press contacts: Jennifer Armand • +33 (0)1 56 22 22 90 • jennifer.armand@francetv.fr // Victoria Daumesnil • + 33 (0)1 56 22 52 09 • victoria.daumesnil@francetv.fr
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