Friday 4th January 2008

Dakar Rally Cancelled

Iconic race stopped by terror threats

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The event is hugely popular

The 2008 Dakar Rally has been cancelled due to direct threats from Al Qaeda.

The organisers of the rally said they have taken the decision to stop the race, scheduled to start tomorrow, based ‘on the current international political tension’.

The Amaury Sport Organisation has vowed that this is not the end of the rally and hopes to revive it in 2009.

Four French tourists were murdered in Mauritania on 24 December, and the French government has advised against any travel to the country.

‘Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists last 24th of December linked to a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, but also and mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken by A.S.O,’ the organisers said in a statement.

‘A.S.O. condemns the terrorist menace that annihilates a year of hard work, engagement and passion for all the participants and the different actors of the world’s biggest off-road rally.

‘The Dakar is a symbol and nothing can destroy symbols.’

[JackHolroyde]

It would appear that Al-Queda is also a symbol...

[Jack_and_MLE]

That's a great shame.
I was looking foward to watch what I could from it.

Those people when caught should be shot

Jack

[Strawman]

can't we rewind the last 4/5 years and start again, watching this was one of the highlights of January for me.

[Raging Demon]

quote;
Those people when caught should be shot.

Who's that then Al Qaeda or the Lying F*ckers who started this illegal war? as far as I am aware we had no terrorist threats in the UK before we attacked Afghanistan.

Cannot really blame them for retaliating (point of principle)

[HeavyRightFoot]

A very sad day for motorsport!

Right! Al-Queda... you n me, outside now!!!!!!

[plasticpig]

Seems a bit of an odd decision to me. Killing a few locals off seems to be a bit of a Dakar tradition. It seems only fair the locals should have a chance to get their own back.

[cowellsj]

I thought the risk of being shot by the locals was part of the attraction of the event. Must be pretty heavy threats for them to pull it.

I'm sure they'll be back next year, be a real shame to loose this event for good.

[MK4 Slowride]

Tragic, surely this is a victory for the terrorists.

[mattsayle]

Thats a real shame

[Crazy of Cookham]

I have a friend who was on the start line with a Bowler Nemesis he must be gutted. The time and cost as a amatuer is immense. Very unfortunate for everyone concerned.

[Dare2Fail]

cowellsj said:

I thought the risk of being shot by the locals was part of the attraction of the event. Must be pretty heavy threats for them to pull it.

I'm sure they'll be back next year, be a real shame to loose this event for good.

One of the rumours doing the rounds is that the insurers of the event pulled out. Jurgen Van Den Goorbourgh (There is no way on earth I have got the spelling of that correct) who was due to be competing for the 1st time this year was quoted as saying words to that effect.

I get the impression that the smaller, privateer teams accept the risk of terrorist attacks on the rally as they seem to happen every year, but the bigger corporate sponsors will get very nervous about this sort of thing. Sadly the bigger sponsors are attached to the factory teams and as a result the rally has been stopped.

[Hendry]

MK4 Slowride said:

Tragic, surely this is a victory for the terrorists.

Ooh really? What car were they in?

[MarkoTVR]

Why not have 'machine gun turret' as a mandatory vehicle fitment for this year? Should come in handy if any undesirables pop up....

[MK4 Slowride]

Hendry said:

MK4 Slowride said:

Tragic, surely this is a victory for the terrorists.

Ooh really? What car were they in?

oh rly

a flaming cherokee iirc, with gas power.

[Wattsie]

Hendry said:

MK4 Slowride said:

Tragic, surely this is a victory for the terrorists.

Ooh really? What car were they in?

a Porsche 9/11, I believe...

[Centurion07]

Wattsie said:

Hendry said:

MK4 Slowride said:

Tragic, surely this is a victory for the terrorists.

Ooh really? What car were they in?

a Porsche 9/11, I believe...

best.......reply.......ever!

[Wattsie]

Thankyou Sir...

[Tonsko]

Hendry said:

MK4 Slowride said:

Tragic, surely this is a victory for the terrorists.

Ooh really? What car were they in?

Very good.

[CelicaGT]

This is a sad day for the Dakar Rally. I hope they are able to bring the event back next year.

[jammiedodger26]

Could they not have given a little bit more notice than one day!! If the people were killed on the 24th it seems like a long time before cancelling the event!!!