Since the Dakar Rally for 2008 was cancelled due to terrorism fears, the organisers, Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile, claimed to laid plans for the race to start in China, and go through Kazakhstan and Russia!
The starting point for the inter continental race will be Tianjin, a port city located north of China Car Times. The race is apparently going to end on June 28th, China Car Times may well pay a visit to the Dakar Rally Tianjin that weekend!
More from Xinhua:
TIANJIN, North China, May 30 (Xinhua) — Tianjin is to host the first Oriental Cross-country Auto Race on June 26, said the Automobile and Motorcycle Sports Administration Centre of China and Tianjin Sports Bureau on Friday.
Yan Jianchang, director of the center, said “the first Oriental Cross-country auto race will be very characteristic and more challenging than Dakar Rally. After a year’s reconnaissance, research and negotiation with China, Russia and Kazakhstan, Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile decided that the first oriental cross-country auto race will be held in these countries in 2008.”
About 120 teams from some 30 countries and regions, and 400 cars and over 1000 athletes will take part in the series of races, starting from St Petersburg, Russia, on June 12, passing Russia and Kazakhstan and China.
In China, there are six special sessions including Junggar Basin ,Turpan Basin. The race will come to an end in Huangyaguan in Tianjin on June 28.
I think the most challenging part will be trying to get through traffic to the finish line…. Maybe they should put in a few extra days to help navigate the city.
The 2009 Dakar will take place in South America, I don’t think this race has anything to do with the Dakar!
See here:
http://www.dakar.fr/index_DAKus.html