Despite the relentless spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Dakar Rally 2021 will go ahead as scheduled starting on January 3 in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). The news was confirmed at a recent press conference by reigning champ Carlos Sainz at an event organized by MINI before the pair heads to the desert country. 

“We have been reassured by Dakar organisers that the Rally is going ahead and it will be disputed following all of the necessary safety measures. I think we will get there on a charter flight. Yesterday I received a call that put our minds at ease. Reassuring words”. – Said the three-time champion. 

The 58-year-old Spaniard, however, acknowledged the rally will be a very different one from those of previous years due to the preventative measures in place, adopted to reduce the likelihood of Covid-19 infections: 

“It is obvious that we are going to compete in a very different Dakar. Within the bivouac bubble, we will have our own bubble in MINI. That will cause some inconveniences since we will have to follow protocols, including when it comes to interacting with you, the press. When we arrive, the ceremonies that used to gather loads of people will be totally different this year. This pandemic is going to change our routines.” 

Just as it in other competitions such as Formula 1 during 2020, participants will have to follow an exhaustive health protocol which, in the case of the Dakar Rally, will begin two days before travelling to Saudi Arabia. 

“We have to do a PCR test in the 48 hours previous to our flight. When we arrive in Saudi Arabia, we have to go to the hotel and quarantine for another 48 hours. Also, random tests will be carried out during the race. This will generate extra stress. Added to the pressure of fighting for victory will be that of not catching anything. Above all, we have to be careful during race days to not get infected with the virus”. – Said the defending champion, Sainz. 

The detection of a more contagious strain of the virus in the United Kingdom and South Africa has put in jeopardy the very presence of the participants coming from those nations, which are currently subjected to severe travel restrictions. 

Despite the circumstances, the Spaniard is hopeful that in the end, those rivals will be able to travel in time to take the exit at the Middle Eastern country: 

“I trust that the organization will do everything in its hands for everyone to arrive on time so that no one is missing. Every measure they take is welcome as long as it is for the good of the race” – Said El Matador regarding this matter. 

Last Sunday, December 20, the alarm was raised among both Dakar 2021 participants and organisers. At just thirteen days from the start of the test, which is scheduled to run from the 3 to the 15 of January, Ryad authorities decreed the closure of the countries’ borders and the ban of all international arrivals for a week, extendable to 14 days.

This was precisely the time that the entourage of participants was due to land in Jeddah, the town that will host the start of the itinerary of the raid. 

Those restrictions for the Dakar Rally 2021, taken by the Saudi Ministry of the Interior following guidelines from the Ministry of Health after the appearance of the more contagious strain in the United Kingdom and South Africa, do, however, allow flights to land as long as they meet some “exceptional circumstances”, which Rally participants do. 

Images of Dakar Rally 2021: Dakar Rally 2021