I imagine most of you are now well aware of the news concerning this year’s Dakar Rally, that being, it has been cancelled due to safety concerns.

Of course when I say safety I am not referring to the risk the participants put themselves in, no, the risk this year has come from instability in Mauritania. 4 French tourists had been murdered there recently and several of the Rally’s stages were due to take place within that country. Following the organisers speaking to the French foreign ministry it was decided to call of the rally due to the risk that these groups posed.

So after 30 years the rally is cancelled, though the organisers insist that this does not put the future of the Dakar Rally at risk, “The Dakar is a symbol and nothing can destroy symbols. The cancellation of the 2008 edition does not endanger the future of the Dakar”.

So now we look forward to next year and the return of one of the greatest races on earth. For more information and the official Dakar website point your browser HERE.