Shun the Saudi desert, in the name of the defense of human rights, would be "worse" than organizing the rally in the Gulf kingdom, Dakar 2022 director David Castera told AFP before the start of the race. 44th edition of the famous rally-raid.
The Dakar arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2020 with the idea of staying there for five years. Is it in the process of establishing itself there permanently and is it renouncing incursions into neighboring countries as had been envisaged with the United Arab Emirates?
David Castera:
It is difficult to project ourselves, today the Covid prevents us from traveling, we would have liked to go to other countries but if I put in place a protocol to go to the Emirates and return it will become impossible. All this closes doors and sclerotic us a little, fortunately the country is huge and there are still possibilities here, but we keep our first idea of going to see what is happening nearby.
Between the pollution caused by the race and the reception by a country often pinned down for human rights, does the Dakar still have its place in 2022?
I believe so, as much as Formula 1, football, Extreme E, as much as the rest ... Saudi Arabia has made the choice of an opening through sport, should we however turn the back because everything is not done as we would like? I think it would be worse. This morning I was at a red light and I was happy to be next to a car with women in it, today I have two Saudi women at the start of the Dakar. We can dispute. But I think it does have its effect, bringing all these people in a few years ago was not even thinkable. There is a beginning of openness and turning your back on these countries would be to let them shut themselves up even more.
This 44th edition sees a strong enthusiasm for “vintage” formulas, Dakar Classic or Originals, more geared towards amateurs, inspired by the early days of the rally, how can we explain it?
First of all, these competitors are at least my age, or even more (51 years old Editor's note), so it is the generation that arrived at the Dakar by television, they grew up with these vehicles and it is also an opportunity for people. who will never be able to do the Dakar to do it in another way.
Among friends, more relaxed, but they will have done the Dakar anyway.
We could sanitize things and say that it is no longer an adventure, but professionals and amateurs are on their own in the desert, there is dust, hostile terrain, it is hot, it is cold.
They are living a real adventure.