A daunting prospect

02 January 2011 | 0:00 - By Jacob Black

The Dakar Rally starts today. 430 race vehicles, some 400 support and media vehicles, including around 20 aircraft will embark from the Obelisko, in the centre of Buenos Aires.

The celebrations have been in swing all week, the public enthusiastically displaying their support for the event in a way only Argentines can, as those of us involved in the Dakar caravan tackled the gruelling administrative and scrutineering process.

This is the world’s largest, most dangerous, and most spectacular motorsport event and 10 Australian riders, drivers and co-drivers will be there combating the conditions and their competitors.

Today, some two million Argentines will line the 300 kilometre route to the overnight area, after a six-hour long ceremony to open the race, and introduce the competitors.

Last year, as I sat here on this day, I wondered what was in store for me, and more so for the competitors. This year, I know what’s in store. That only makes it more daunting.

Racing starts tomorrow, but for today, it’s time to soak up the Dakar atmosphere, and for those racing, time to soak up their celebrity status.

Once again I’m here, pen in hand, tent on back and dust in eyes, to help convey just a fraction of the enormity of this event.

You can join us, and most of the Aussie competitors on Facebook, and this year our Deep in the Dust coverage will be even better.

Nosvemos! (We’ll see each other).

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Comments (2)

03 Jan 2011 2:25 AEST

Sarah

From: Los Angeles,Ca USA

Dakar Rally

I like to see more of the team from USA such as car #374 The Ford SVT Raptor that was put together at the Fab School in Riverside, CA in your reports.

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02 Jan 2011 17:16 AEST

Jenny

From: Cairns

Results

Hi No results have been posted for day one - any ideas of where we should look?

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About this Blog

Deep in the Dust is the place to enjoy all the latest stories and interviews from Jacob Black, SBS's man on the ground in Argentina and Chile for the 2011 Dakar Rally.

Jacob Black Jacob Black is a motorsport writer and broadcaster. An accomplished feature article writer and a co-author to several books on Australia's V8 Supercars, (1K08, 1K09 and V808) Jacobs hold a Bachelor of Media, Communications and Culture in Broadcast Journalism from Murdoch University.

Inspired by his father's passion for touring car racing, Jacob developed a keen interest in all things motorsport from an early age. After traveling there in 2008, he also developed a deep affection for South America and in particular, Argentina.

Born in Perth, Western Australia, Jacob is now based in St Kilda, Victoria.

 
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