Marcus Hanke
[PuristSPro Moderator]
11296
Well, "Dakar" is a - valuable - brand
So it was clear the organizers would not drop that asset.
The African routes grew increasingly dangerous: mines, ambushes, together with logistic difficulties made a complete relocation a logical consequence.
Finally, Volkswagen as new main sponsor had no interest in an event in Africa where sales of new cars do not play a major role. South America, in the contrary, is a market with large potential for Volkswagen's production facilities in S. America.
Marcus
Dakar 2019
They still have Dakar in the name. I'm seriously annoyed by that for years and years now. It should be called Peru 2019. Because this rally has got nothing to do with Paris - Dakar anymore since 2008 when they finished in Dakar for the last time. So to be...
Well, "Dakar" is a - valuable - brand
So it was clear the organizers would not drop that asset. The African routes grew increasingly dangerous: mines, ambushes, together with logistic difficulties made a complete relocation a logical consequence. Finally, Volkswagen as new main sponsor had no...
I know and understand
But still....when I drove around in Berlin I’m not saying I was in a Paris tour right?
I fully second your opinion, but I understand the economic reason behind the decision to keep the name "Dakar"
... including the logo, which, too, has nothing to do with its current location: What hurts me more that Porsche's rallye acitivities became a victim of the Volkwagen "takeover" of the Dakar: The great Transsiberia had to be cancelled. Marcus ...
One of the coldest and most miserable nights
I can remember was one New Year's Eve in Paris we decided to watch the Paris-Dakar race taking off. (sorry for the poor photos; this was about 20 years ago) There was rain, and a little snow. Everyone was prepared for it, except we tourists from Californi...