Mick Extance openly admits he's addicted to competing in the iconic Dakar Rally. He also acknowledges his obsession hasn’t always been healthy, even conceding it could be labelled as a form of mental illness. Racing in the Dakar eight times since 2002 has come at huge cost. He’s spent hundreds of thousands of pounds to get to the start line, and has had to make huge sacrifices along the way, including the breakdown of his marriage, and the repossession of his house. He hasn't competed in the last two events, but is still paying off debt incurred racing at the event. The levels of burden and stress he’s endured to make it happen would break most of us. But now it’s all over, and he won’t ever race in the Dakar again. The organisers have called time on his further participation, citing health concerns following treatment for a brain tumour back in 2017.
These are only the headlines of a story of an extraordinary relationship with a unique event, and listening to 59-year-old Mick tell his tale was not only fascinating, but also emotional. Hearing his account of great highs and lows had a profound impact on me at times. If I’m honest, at many points I wanted to stop him talking as he regularly wept at the prospect of not being able to take part in the Dakar ever again. There’s no doubt racing at the iconic
