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OiLibya Rally of Tunisia: Reconnaissance just finished, renewed Tunisia route.
The reconnaissance for the Rallye Oilibya of Tunisia 2010 just finished and the 2010 vintage will be a great year. With a renewed route among various tracks, the Rally will take on some 100 percent brand-new stages, with at the end of each day a bivouac in friendly environment - all the ingredients, to surprise the competitor. A Rally to discover or rediscover Tunisia and its treasure between Tunis and Douz where, for the first time, the finish and the prize giving ceremony will take place.
After ten days of reconnaissance in the Tunisian desert, Stéphane Clair want to share his enthusiasm for a route that he wanted intense but always accessible by the pure amateurs. Meanwhile knowing the stages, here you’ll find somewhat to dream about: "I had a lot of pleasure to draw this race, and I hope the competitors will have the same satisfaction has they compete. I have to confess that I rediscovered Tunisia and its magical landscapes. Indeed, a lot of thing changes - violent sand winds have modified the relief of several areas."
Three years ago, there were nothing here, but at this time the sand recovered most of the area by one to two meters at some points - even in some unexpected spot. "This restriction, allow us to draw different stages on innovative tracks, and for those one who thought known Tunisia on one's finger-tips, they will be surprise by this spanking new route. In addition to those unseen tracks, we will come back on tracks that the Rally did not followed since a while. It gives new blood to the course" Clair added.
The Rally will be take part half time in Hotels and half time in Bivouacs. Because of loops, everybody will stay two days on each bivouac. Compare to previous years, the competitors will notice that the liaisons has been slightly revised down, as the assistance crew who, beside the first stage, will not have to drive more than 150 Kilometres per day and will have the possibility to get to the assistance points during the stage. You’ll note that the bivouacs and assistance points will be accessible to all 2-wheel drive vehicles’.
"The 2010 editions put forward various fields, and I will say that we will be going from WRC style driving to pure crossing. It will be for everybody, but navigation and driving will always be the key. The Road Book will be more accurate with more notes than usual. Some stages will not necessarily be long but they’re will be dense" Stéphane Clair said.
"My approach for the race was that I always kept in mind the accessibility for the novices. There will be crossing, but it never be insurmountable. Difficulty will appear crescendo. For each of the 6 stages competitors will have to deserve it but the course will be well adjusted. We will get through just about 50% of sand, and I think it will be enough - for everyone. After a transit, close to El Borma, competitors will cross the Jenein Erg in an innovative way - I wanted for the 5th day, something "chilly" to work on the last stages, which will not be a formality."
Indeed, the Rally arrival will take place in the El Faouar palm grove, close to Douz with the timing zone at the top of a dune - big show! Douz is an ideal city for the arrival; the conviviality will be preserved till the end.
Saturday May 1st
Administrative and technical checks, in Tunis.
Sunday May 2nd to Friday May 7th
6 Days of race with 4 linear stages and 2 stages in loop.
4 nights in hôtels, 4 nights in bivouac
Friday May 7th
Arrival at Douz and prize giving ceremony
2010/03/04 | 11:16 CET | Editor: MR/HS/NPO
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