Etienne Lavigne and Marc Coma have had a look at how things are coming together as the Dakar approaches: the Argentinians and Bolivians are ready…
While the cars of the European competitors are heading across the ocean to Buenos Aires, where they will start the 2016 Dakar in five weeks, Race Director Etienne Lavigne and his Sporting Director Marc Coma have crossed the Atlantic for a quick visit to go over the details of the 38th Dakar with the South American competitors and teams, which represent 30% of the overall field. And it is precisely in the Argentinean capital that the first rendezvous was scheduled, with a special significance in the context of the Dakar 2016: “Argentina is the only country that has participated in all the editions of the Dakar since its arrival on the Continent, and it has played a decisive role in the challenge that we have already met concerning the organizational plan these past few months”, recalled Etienne Lavigne in a recent thank you addressed to Mr. Enrique Meyer, the Tourism Minister, who was one of the major players of the first Dakar in 2009, and who will leave his post in the weeks to come and thus seized the occasion to take stock: “When we set off on this adventure in 2008, there were some uncertainties about hosting a sporting event of the importance of the Dakar. But we quickly understood that this extraordinary event also presented a very significant potential for our country’s tourism industry”, he explained.
The following day, Marc Coma arrived at La Paz to meet with the Bolivian competitors and media, as well as President Evo Morales who was also eager to hear about the route the five-time winner of the rally has come up with. The Dakar’s third visit to Bolivia promises to, once again, test the fitness of the participants, especially in terms of the weather and atmospheric conditions that they will certainly face. While the importance of the Bolivian stages was highlighted by Coma, the Minister of the Presidency, Juan Ramon Quintana made a point of saluting the effort of the organisers: “A tremendous amount of work has been accomplished the past four months to come up with a second version of the 2016 route. And we have affirmed our loyalty and commitment to this great adventure, which will once again allow Bolivia to be seen around the world.” Television viewers will have the chance to discover the Bolivian mountains this coming January 7 for the first of two stages that will be run in the Uyuni region.