231 teams are waiting for the start, after the recent kidnapping in Mauritania
20th December 2009 - Budapest. - Hungaroring will host the start of the 2010 Budapest-Bamako The Great African Run on 16th January, Saturday morning at 8 o’clock. This will be the first time that the two week long rally will not depart form Budapest. "The Hungaroring is the citadel of the Hungarian motorsport and the most prestigious location for the start of the Budapest-Bamako Rally" - said András Polgár run director. Hungaroring has all facilities, which are necessary for the technical and administrative check, and the departure. Administrative and Technical days start on 14th January.
Next to Hungaroring there is an Adventure Park, where a brief but spectacular terrain has to be done by the participants after the start. "We will see who did or did not fix the spare tries and gasoline cans well on the roof.” said founder and patron of the run Villám Géza. After the scoring section in Mogyoród the participants will go through the downtown of Budapest, the Chain Bridge and leave the city on the M7 motorway.
The start of the 9000-kilometer marathon rally is not without its tensions. The participants welcomed astonished, that European citizens were kidnapped by the local Al-Qaeda militants. Last month, three Spanish had been taken from the place where both the adventure and the competition category entrants will pass. "We are concerned about the recent terrorist attacks and safety. The family members are much more nervous. "- said Dany Bolduc, the only Canadian team captain. Early this year, two Canadians were kidnapped, who were only released in April.
The authorities of Mauritania confirmed that the rally has extreme importance to the government. Military fighting vehicles, thousands of armed soldiers and the military aircraft will also take care of this year's Budapest-Bamako. "Of course, this does not mean that the marches do not have to meet strict safety standards" - added András Polgár. This week a special security document is to be sent to the participants. "The Budapest-Bamako is a dangerous operation. Terrorism, the Tuareg rebellion and the political tensions interfere with the run every year. The most important thing is that the threats an risk can only be evaluated and assessed by the participants "- added Villám Geza.
Despite the international economic crisis 146 teams entered in adventure category and 85 teams in competition. According to these datas the Budapest-Bamako Rally is the largest African rally and the world's largest amateur motor sport. The 40% of the participants are non-Hungarians. The Polish, Czech, Slovak and Romanian troops are followed by teams from Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Germany, Canada, but even the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and New Zealand as well.
Start: 2010. January 16, morning 8:00, Hungaroring
Entry: Free
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