By Tim Sanchez - Dirtnewz
al-Qaeda Terror Threats Shut Down Dakar Rally/ Team DAKAR USA Stunned at Announcement
Orange, California –(January 4, 2007) Stunning news shot across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States early this morning when DAKAR Race Officials (ASO) announced they officially cancelled the 30th Edition of the DAKAR Rally.
ASO Officials cited prominent threats from one of the world’s most violent terrorist groups, al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, who has been chased unsuccessfully by the United States military for the past three years.
ASO Officials said they had received information from the French Government’s Foreign Minister Office citing threats to the participants of the 2008 Dakar Rally.
Pointing to the December 24th murder of four French tourists in Africa, the French Government strongly recommended that the ASO not proceed with the race that was slated to cross what some regard as the most remote, desolate and harsh terrain in the world.
Thursday afternoon the French Ministers discussed the safety of the rally at a Cabinet meeting and subsequently met with race organizers to outline the risks.
A French government spokesman Laurent Wauquiez said, "The ministry strongly warns all French citizens against going to Mauritania until further orders, that goes for all French (people), as well as the organization of the Lisbon-Dakar rally."
Authorities in Mauritania have blamed a terror "sleeper cell" linked to the Algeria-based al-Qaeda in Islamic North Africa for the slayings of the family. al-Qaeda in Islamic North Africa claimed responsibility for the killing of the soldiers in an audio tape released to Al-Arabiya TV station.
I spoke to Team DAKAR USA race truck driver, Tom Geviss, who was slated to race the Monster/Toyo Tires/ Robby Gordon Motorsports T4 just after he was told by ASO Officials that the race was cancelled.
Geviss said, “We were in line at the gate awaiting our turn for scruitineering and the Dakar Officials told us to go home that the race was cancelled. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from the guy. Workers began breaking down the temporary facility that the headquarters was at and that’s it. Dakar is over.”
Tom Geviss, an integral part of Robby Gordon Motorsports, became the first America team to finish the Dakar Rally in the truck class in 2007. Geviss was joined by United States veteran desert racers, Will Higman and Paul Mischel, as the trio made history representing the United States in a first ever completion of this off road endurance race.
Over the past week, ASO Security Officials have been meeting with government officials strategizing for the Dakar Rally’s trek through the unstable and war-torn African continent and apparently have reached the conclusion that there is no safe travel. In past races, Dakar Officials have bypassed countries and regions due to threats of violence against the rally participants, but never have they cancelled the biggest race in off road racing.
Each year Robby Gordon talks with his crew about the dangers and perils of travel during the Dakar Rally and Team Dakar USA participate knowing that the Dakar Rally is potentially a life-threatening race.
Geviss explained, “We all know that its dangerous racing anywhere and racing in Africa, well, it’s even more dangerous, but we’re here to race. We’re ready to go and this is a big disappointment for our entire team.”
“The chaos outside our team is obvious. Many teams have no idea what’s really going on and there seems to be confusion. It’s plain and simple, the terrorist won this battle by doing what they do best, making threats.”
Teams from all around the world have descended upon Portugal for the beginning of the thirtieth anniversary of the Dakar Rally and the super teams such as VW, Mitsubishi and several others have spent tens of millions of dollars on this one race, the Dakar Rally. Besides the most high-profile American racer set for battle, Robby Gordon, many other racers from a wide variety of motor sports disciplines have dedicated their entire year to this one race.
Nissan Team Manager, Andre Dessoud said, “The decision was taken for good reasons but it's very annoying. We worked for months and invested a lot of money. I don't have a clue about what we are going to do. We have lost all the petrol we have sent ahead of the race and we'll have to call back the lorries which carried the cars to Lisbon."
Dakar Officials had some 570 race teams registered for the event and this cancellation leaves teams, drivers, managers and support personnel reeling from the news.
Team DAKAR USA is evaluating their next step and has begun planning the logistics of returning equipment to the United States and France.
Follow the latest updates on Team DAKAR USA on www.robbysuprising.com
Links to the latest stories:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/04/ap/world/main3674152.shtml
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-04-voa25.cfm
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2008-01-04-dakar-rally-canceled_N.htm
http://www.detnews.com/
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20080104-0628-car-dakarrally.html
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