Dakar 2016: First Stage Of Rally Cancelled

Off-road racing usually does not have to take into consideration weather conditions, but that was not the case with the first stage of the 2016 Dakar Rally. After a saddening Prologue that left 10 people injured, and due to extreme weather conditions race director Étienne Lavigne was left with no choice, but to cancel the stage.

Race organizers said in a statement, “It’s no longer raining in the area of the special, but the weather is not good enough. The helicopters needed to guarantee the safety of the participants during the race are unable to fly due to poor weather conditions on the course of the special and at the end of the stage. The rain has turned parts of the special into torrents of water. The entire field will reach Villa Carlos Paz under link section conditions. Motorcycles and quads will travel in a convoy, cars on their own and trucks on the course reserved for assistance vehicles.”

The competitors headed to Villa Carlos Paz under link section rules after the cancellation was announced. A route has been selected on which motorcycles and quads move in a convoy, while cars are allowed to travel on their own. The trucks had not departed from Rosario yet, so they would be heading to today’s finish on the course for assistance vehicles.

The start of stage 2, tomorrow, will be based on the places at the end of yesterday’s Prologue. The trucks group did not participate in the Prologue due to the crash that happened which involved the Mini of Chinese driver Guo Meiling.

Stay tuned to Off Road Xtreme as we continue to bring updates from the 2016 Dakar Rally. Off-road racing cancelled due to weather, are we seeing this to often now between Dakar, desert racing and short-course? Tell us in the comments below!