As its identify suggests, The Actual Option to Dakar is a race that hoped to loosely mirror the previous route of the legendary Paris–Dakar Rally, operating from Europe to the capital of Senegal. After fourteen years, nonetheless, the race and its organising physique Intercontinental Rally have shut down.
Kasper van Deurs and Jacob Ilskov, the organisers of the race, each have members of the family battling sicknesses that require them to take time away. On account of an absence of assets to maintain the small Intercontinental Rally working, they elected to shut it altogether.
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“It’s with nice sorrow that we’re saying that The Actual Option to Dakar 2025 is cancelled and that we’re closing down the organisation,” begins a letter from van Deurs and Ilskov on Wednesday. “Each of us are coping with critical sickness in our speedy household and our focus should now be on therapeutic and supporting our households by this very difficult part. The Actual Option to Dakar has all the time been a small organisation and with each homeowners having to alter our priorities, it merely is just not attainable to maneuver ahead with the rally.
“For us, The Actual Option to Dakar has been a dream and a joint mission for the previous 10 years, first as a service crew and later because the homeowners of the rally and it’s not with out nice consideration and lots of talks that this choice has been made. We’re very a lot conscious, that this may trigger nice difficulties for everybody who has signed up for the 2025 version of The Actual Option to Dakar! Nevertheless, the well being and wellbeing of ourself and our household should come first!”
The Intercontinental Rally first occurred in 2011 with a route that started in Almería, Spain, and resulted in Dakar. It continued with this identify till 2020, when “The Actual Option to Dakar by Intercontinental Rally” was adopted.
Registration for the 2025 race started on 4 March. With its cancellation, everybody who had already signed up might be absolutely reimbursed. Had it taken place, it will have run from 20 January to 1 February, although a “tender begin” in Paris was scheduled for 16 January.
“Our individuals have all the time been a very powerful a part of operating The Actual Option to Dakar and in making this choice, it has been important to make sure that we communicated this choice as shortly and clearly as attainable, so everybody has as probability to adapt any plans,” continues the assertion. “This additionally implies that individuals are in a position to get a full refund!
“All individuals will get a separate electronic mail with detailed directions on how the refund might be executed.
“On a remaining notice, we wish to thank all individuals and repair groups who’ve joined us on this wonderful journey. Thanks for trusting us together with your goals and being part of our rally household!
“Thanks to our native helpers: Adnane, Sidi and Moulaye who makes positive that we’re taken care of and have all the required assist in each Marocco, Mauritania and Senegal.
“And eventually, to the organisation behind The Actual Option to Dakar: Not many individuals is aware of the extent of labor, consideration to element and fervour it takes to make a rally like The Actual Option to Dakar, however we deeply recognize all of you for touring with us on this loopy journey! Thanks!
“We recognize your assist and understanding.”
The race consisted of six courses, every break up into smaller classes by engine measurement or gas supply. There have been 4 bike divisions (M1 for bikes as much as 450cc, M2 for 451cc to 690cc, M3 for 691cc to 950cc, and non-petrol), two quads (Q1 for as much as 700cc and Q2 for 701cc and up), three for vehicles (C1 for as much as 3000cc, C2 for 3001cc to 4200cc, and C3 for 40201cc and over), a buggy class, a veteran class for these over the age of sixty, and Basic automobiles older than thirty. There was additionally an non-competitive Journey class.
Not like different rallies that use roadbooks, the Intercontinental Rally relied on GPS navigation offered as a GPX file every evening.
The rally sought to fill the void left by the Dakar Rally leaving its conventional route after 2008, which the Africa Eco Race has additionally completed since 2009. The 2025 AER runs from 28 December to 12 January, closely overlapping with the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
