This is a great first for the Dakar: the iconic rally raid starts on Sunday January 5 in Saudi Arabia. A 42nd edition which is causing controversy, in particular due to the country's shortcomings in the field of human rights. After traveling around Africa for 29 years, then South America for a decade, the Dakar has relocated to the Middle East, where it intends to stay for at least five years.
On the sporting side, the presence of the star of Formula 1 Fernando Alonso should attract all eyes, but for now, it is above all on the geopolitical field that the race, organized by the French company Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) , in the news this year.
The choice of country has indeed stirred criticism, the kingdom being regularly singled out for human rights abuses despite the recent reforms initiated by Prince Mohammed ben Salmane and very dynamic sports diplomacy.
NGOs fear that the organization of the Dakar will offer Saudi Arabia an advertising showcase at a time when the ultra-conservative kingdom, still associated with the Khashoggi affair, is seeking to change its image to attract international tourists.
"Make people forget the crimes of the regime"
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) association, for example, protested against a "communication and diversionary operation aimed at making people forget the crimes of the regime".
Friday, the NGO and several human rights organizations, including the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH), once again arrested ASO, France Televisions, and more generally all the pilots and spectators of the Dakar, asking them not to "let themselves be blinded by the sports spectacle" and that the race should not be "a platform offered to Saudi Arabia to improve its image and make people forget its crimes".
The contractual conditions of this Dakar in Saudi Arabia are not known in detail. But, if they are aware of the controversial nature of their choice, the organizers prefer to praise Riyadh's "will to open", when such an event could not have taken place without the reforms of Mohammed Ben Salmane.
And despite the controversy that accompanies the rally, the race still attracts as many competitors. They will be 351 teams in the car, motorbike, truck, quad and SSV categories at the start of the race, Sunday in Jeddah.
From the shores of the Red Sea, passing by the grandiose rocks of Al-Ula and the gigantic immaculate dunes of the Empty Quarter, the largest sea of sand in the world, the luckiest will reach the finish at Al-Qiddiah, 7,800 km and 12 stages later.
Among them, the double F1 world champion Fernando Alonso will make his debut in the car category at Toyota alongside his co-driver Marc Coma, five-time winner of the motorcycle event.
Alonso is not the first F1 driver to tackle the Dakar. Before him, the Belgian Jacky Ickx, winner of eight Grand Prix in Formula 1 and halo of six triumphs at Le Mans, won the Dakar in 1983 and took second place on two occasions (1986 and 1989).
The Spaniard, who is trying to make his mark on the biggest motorsport races, however warned that he was not coming to win but rather to enjoy the Dakar experience, "the most extreme race in motor sports" according to him.
Mike Horn, the chef's surprise
"Even Sébastien Loeb did not win the Dakar, so imagine me, who comes from the asphalt," Alonso told the Spanish channel RTVE.
The Frenchman, who is not at the start this year, won 13 stages in four participations but did not manage to do better than second in 2017 and third last year.
For the favorites, it will rather be necessary to look at the side of the Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota), triple winner of the event and defending champion, the Spanish Carlos Sainz (Mini) or the tireless Stéphane Peterhansel associated with the Portuguese Paulo Fiuza (Mini).
The Frenchman, nicknamed "Monsieur Dakar" by virtue of his thirteen titles in the event, had to sign up with his wife Andréa but she had to forfeit at the last minute due to health problems.
At SSVs, vehicles halfway between quads and buggies, a last minute guest should also be talked about. Explorer Mike Horn, returning from a highly publicized Arctic expedition, will start the race alongside Cyril Despres, winner of the Dakar motorcycle five times.
With AFP
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