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20 Years Since That Dakar!
Patsy lined up at the start of the 2006 Dakar Rallye in Lisbon, Portugal, having had 3 previous attempts at what is the world’s toughest motorsport event. Despite her first attempt ending with a horrific crash which led to her having emergency, life saving surgery she didn’t give up on her dream to get to the finish line in Dakar.
2 further attempts, with mechanical failure and then being out of time robbed her of the dream again.
So, how would you be feeling on the start of your 4th attempt…………….
The 2006 Paris Dakar was the 28th Edition of the world’s toughest rallye. That year, it started in Lisbon Portugal on 31st December 2005 and finished on the shore of Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal on 15th January 2006.
After leaving Portugal the event passed through Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mali, Mauritania and Guinea before getting to Senegal.
The 15 stages included several 500 plus mile days, that’s Brighton to Dundee if you’re wondering, navigating by road book and traversing some of the world’s harshest terrain.
That year’s entry list reads of a who’s who in world rallye sport, Carlos Sainz, Nani Roma, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Stephane Peterhansel, Cyril Despres, Marc Coma, Isidre Esteve, Alfie Cox.
What’s our interest in this event you might ask? Well our very own Patsy Quick, having had 3 previous attempts, finally reached her goal and became the first British woman not only to enter this race, but to get to the finish line.
To put that into context, out of 232 bikes that started the event only 93 finished. Patsy along with Clive “Zippy” Town reached Lac Rose after some 5,600 miles, at the end of each day’s riding they would have to service their bikes ready for the next day’s racing.
You will get a flavour of Patsy’s achievement by watching Charley Boorman’s Race to Dakar. Alongside Charley, was all round Dakar legend Simon Pavey who also reached the finish line that year.
- Paul King
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Patsy lined up at the start of the 2006 Dakar Rallye in Lisbon, Portugal, having had 3 previous attempts at what is the world’s toughest motorsport event. Despite her first attempt ending with a horrific crash which led to her having emergency, life saving surgery she didn’t give up on her dream to get to the finish line in Dakar.
2 further attempts, with mechanical failure and then being out of time robbed her of the dream again.
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