That’s the Dakar Rally! That’s the Amazing Race! That’s harsh reality and no one could script the ending. And champions just don’t last!

The Dakar Rally (formerly known as “The Paris Dakar Rally”) is an annual off-road race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. The race is open to amateur and professional entries; amateurs typically make up about eighty percent of the participants.

Despite its name, it is an off-road endurance race rather than a conventional rally – the terrain the competitors traverse is much tougher and the vehicles used are true off-road vehicles rather than the modified sedans used in rallies. The Dakar has been billed as the world’s toughest race, its pages packed with excitement, drama and tragedies over the years. It is also not just a speed race; it demands wits, courage, off-road navigation skills, speed with tenacity and endurance. It’s certainly not for the faint-hearted and its participants see themselves as brave as the lions that roam Africa.

The Dakar Rally is a race like no other. Natural elements like sand storms, jagged boulders, treacherous trees and unforgiving terrain await. Many cars have fallen victims and challengers have lost their lives. It is tough, but the Dakar Rally’s strange romance with adventures continues – as overwhelming entries year after year prove. For close to 30 years, the call of Africa has drawn champions from different continents, forging chemistry between men and machines, physical rigor and technical performance.

The 29th edition of the Euromilhoes Lisboa Dakar 2007, will take off from Lisbon, and run from Jan 6-21.

Drivers and bikers will battle it out over 8,696km, including 5,010km of timed specials in 14 stages – 12 in Africa and two in Portugal.

From Portugal, the rally will continue in the African continent after the contenders cross the Mediterranean sea by boats. They will then race through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal with the final stage from Tambacounda to Dakar, on Jan 20.

For the third year running, the maximum number of entries for the Dakar Rally was reached much earlier. By June last year, a total of 240 entries had already been received for the car category which had only 185 available places.

Entries for the motorcycle category, which had 240 places, were closed two days earlier. More than 100 entries were received for the truck category with only 80 places available.

The three major competitive classes of the Dakar are motorcycles, automobiles (ranging from buggies to small trucks) and large trucks. Many vehicle manufacturers exploit the harsh environment the rally offers as a testing ground, and consequently to demonstrate the durability of their vehicles, although most vehicles are heavily modified.

Click here to visit Dakar Dally Official Website.