The Dakar Rally, easily the worlds most grueling and logistically challenging auto race, will start on Dec. 31 in Lison, Portugal and head approximately 6,500 miles south through Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar and into Morocco. From there, the race turns rugged as the field of more than 500 vehicles makes the incredible journey through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Senegal. Robby Gordon, driver of the #7 Jim Beam/Harrah’s/Menards Chevy in the Nextel Cup Series, will spend his New Years Eve behind the wheel of a race car for the first of 16 days of competition in the Dakar with hopes of being the first to pull into Dakar, Senegal on Jan. 15.
Gordon, a six-time SCORE Off-Road Champion and a two-time winner of the famed Baja 1000 in addition to countless other off-road races in North America, will drive a specially prepared Hummer H3 on Toyo Tires with sponsorship from Jim Beam in his quest to become the first American to win the famed Dakar Rally in its 28-year history. Last year, driving for the German Volkswagen team, Gordon became the first American to ever win a stage in the race, eventually winning two of the 16 stages en route to an 12th-place overall finish.
Gordons participation in the 2005 Dakar brought the race much needed recognition in the United States and Canada, and exposure to North American race fans will grow again in 2006 with OLNs daily coverage of the race and the networks four recap shows that will air after the completion of the race.
This year, 508 cars, trucks and motorcycles, representing 40 countries, will leave the starting line in Lisbon with their eyes fixed on a finish line 16 days and 6,500 miles away. While many will consider just finishing a victory, Gordons goals are clearly stated: I will be disappointed with anything other than a win. Our people have given so much of themselves over the last few months to get us ready to compete, and our sole focus is to become the first Americans to win Dakar. We finished the race last year, this year were going there to win.(in part from a Robby Gordon Motorsports PR) and more info about the race at dakar.com.(12-17-2005)
