In its 28-year history, the Dakar Rally has criss-crossed most of North Africa, but the gruelling event is still waiting for an African competitor to take the race by storm.
Only 12 African competitors were at the start line in Lisbon on December 31 for the start of the 2006 edition. In 2005, it had been 18.
”It is very variable,” said race director Etienne Lavigne. ”There are years with and there are years without.”
For 2006, South Africa and Senegal both have four competitors, Tunisia has a two-man team in the car section, Angola boasts a co-driver in the same category and Burkina Faso is represented by a single motorcyclist.
”It’s always like this,” said Michel Nanga, the Burkina Faso racer. ”Taking into account the lack of means, we are well represented.”
Mame Less Diallo, a Senegalese motorcyclist who has already pulled out of the race, was more to the point.
”The financial obstacle is the principal problem,” he said.
In an attempt to attract more African competitors, the organisers offered certain exemptions to the entry fee for the 2006 event, which stood at €9 500 in the motorcycle category.
For example, the exemption was total for competitors travelling through their own country, partial for others.
As the race does not go through Burkina Faso, Nanga would have paid out 50% of the total.
Nanga has been helped by the backing of an Austrian sponsor in Togo and runs under Team Toni Togo.
”It helps that we have almost-new motorcycles, but this is not enough because the problem is that we don’t have sponsors,” said Nanga.
Senegal’s Alioune Sarr is also feeling the financial pinch.
”I am here without assistance, so I am coping myself. I will have to try and not break the engine. Mame Less Diallo has also helped me. He gave me my jacket.”
Despite his withdrawal, Diallo hopes to have struck a blow for other African hopefuls.
”My goal is to give a taste of the Dakar Rally to other young Africans,” said Diallo, who is racing in his ninth event. ”In the nine years, I have seen interest grow and the media coverage has improved. I am very proud.”
Kleinschmidt moves ahead
Meanwhile, Germany’s Jutta Kleinschmidt, who in 2001 became the first female to win the Dakar Rally, on Wednesday continued moving up the pack and at the end of the fifth stage was second overall behind her teammate Carlos Sainz.
The German in her VW Touareg is one minute and 28 seconds behind the Spaniard, with former French ski star Luc Alphand, who has two Dakar victories, third in a Pajero.
The rally, which this year runs from Lisbon to Dakar, has 15 stages and ends in the Senegalese capital on January 16.
The three other Touareg drivers, American Mark Miller, South African Giniel de Villiers and Frenchman Bruno Saby, occupy places four to six.
Kleinschmidt said she is happy with her performance.
”Second overall is great. It can continue like that. On Thursday, everybody can take over the lead.”
Japanese driver Hiroshi Masuoka, who won the rally in 2002 and 2003, did not start the fifth stage as his Pajero was too badly damaged after an accident on Tuesday. He withdrew.
In the motorbike classification, Spain’s KTM driver Marc Coma kept the lead from Cyril Despres, who won the stage. Isidre Esteve Pujol is third. — Sapa-DPA, Sapa-AFP