LISBON WAS once again the centre of sporting excitement on Thursday as the best rally cars and motorbikes in the world lined up for the ‘off’ for the second Pax Rally.
The event, which appears to be a consolation prize replacing Portugal’s disappointment last year at not being able to host the Dakar Rally, cancelled at the last minute in December, recreated all the excitement and adrenaline of the first leg of the famous Dakar race.
The 1583km all-terrain challenge was divided into six legs: Lisbon-Castelo Branco (384km) between September 10-11, Castelo Branco-Benavente (397km), September 11-12, Benavente-Alcochete (113km) September 12; and Alcochete-Portimão (468km) and Portimão-Portimão (84km), 12-14 September.
Over the incredibly loud noise, drivers Joan ‘Nani’ Roma, Luc Alphand and Stéphane Peterhansel, all representing the Mitsubishi team, said they had “high expectations.”
“I’m well prepared, it’s going to be a technically challenging and stunning route, and also difficult,” said ‘Nani’ Roma who said that his experiences in Lisbon and Portugal “got better and better every year.”
“It’s a beautiful and magical city” said the Spanish competitor who said that his goal was “to win.” Stéphane Peterhansel, another candidate going for victory, agreed: “This place is stunning, really, really beautiful. I’m ready, but of course it won’t be easy and risks will have to be taken since the rally course is so short,” said the French driver.
Dakar Rally 2009
However, many of the drivers are said to be merely testing their vehicles for the real race- Dakar Rally 2009 – which will take place in Argentina and Chile between January 3 and 18.
This idea was refuted by Joana Lemos, President of the Pax Rally Organisation Commission, who said the key motive was to bring together “the main players in all the motor categories and ensure that Dakar one day returns to Portugal and Lisbon.”
“If we hadn’t taken the opportunity of organizing this project in Lisbon then the Dakar Rally might just as well end up being hosted by another European city in the future instead of Lisbon,” she said.
The Euro Millions Dakar Rally 2008 had been cancelled over safety and security aspects leading to this recently created Dakar Series Pax Rally, which could become a permanent annual fixture in the build up to Dakar Rally.
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