ORIGINALLY DAKAR’S only priority was survival. Could a mob of like-minded adventurers survive a crossing of the most desolate region on the planet. Stamina – and maybe more than a bit of mechanical know-how – was critical. Speed was irrelevant.
Now survival is almost guaranteed; there’s an escape route, a refreshing shower, a cold drink, a hot meal and a reasonably comfortable bed waiting at the end of each day. Speed, timed to the second, is now the only criterion.
Except for one stage. A revised marathon section will take the Dakar back to its roots for
