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 | OiLibya Rally of Tunisia: The scent of Discovery from Tunis to Douz.
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The 2010 OiLibya Rally of Tunisia will go back to its roots, taking place entirely on Tunisian soil. The start will take place close to the capital city, Tunis, and the finish line will take place in Douz, the gateway to the Sahara. Thanks to the involvement of the government, the authorities and the country’s sporting organizations, the 2010 edition will take place, more than ever, in perfect harmony with, and for, the people of Tunisia.
The second round of the World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, and of the Motorbike World Championship, this event, with its varied route, made up of six stages, will be the theatre of a top-level sporting event on the most beautiful routes in southern Tunisia.
Just like last year, the OiLibya Rally of Tunisia will start close to Tunis, in the seaside resort of Gammarth. After the administrative and technical checks, on Saturday May 1st, the Rally will officially get underway at 16:30 with a prologue on the beach, counting towards the overall classification.
As Stéphane Clair from the French organiser NPO explained, the 2010 route will bring some "new blood" to the event. In recent months, the capricious climate and the violent sand storms have brought some changes to the topography of some regions. Slowly but surely, the sand is wearing away the earth, settling in some areas to a depth of one or two metres.
"These changes have allowed us to draw up some different stages, even totally new, and those competitors who thought they knew Tunisia extremely well will be stunned and surprised by the landscape. As well as the totally new sections, we will go back to some tracks that the rally had not used for many years" Clair said.
From Sunday May 2nd, the first leg will take the competitors to Douz, on the edge of the immense saline lake El Jerid, a blinding expanse of salt and cracked clay. The next day, the caravan will head south, towards Nékrif, for two nights bivouac in the middle of the eucalyptus groves. The indisputable pearl of south Tunisia, on the edge of the Great Oriental Erg, the Ksar Ghilane oasis will welcome all those who survive the sands of the Jenein dunes. Finally on Friday May 7th, the final stage, definitely no mere formality, will cross the El Faouar dunes to return to Douz.
According to Stéphane Clair, the route gives the race a certain balance, and everyone should find something to suit them: "Every day’s stage will have a different configuration, as well as a different way of facing it, with the effort needed growing gradually from the first to the last day. The navigators will play a significant role in five out of the six stages. The rally will start off "softly", but with a real special stage. The drivers will enjoy themselves on a winding road, needing quite a physical driving style, and the navigators will be straight in at the deep end. The road-book will be more precise, with more notes. There is no rest day, but we have made sure that everyone will be back before nightfall to enjoy the bivouac. The competitors should enjoy themselves."
Perfectly integrated into the rally, NPO is also organising the 2010 Raid of Tunisia. Sensations and emotions are guaranteed for all those who take part, setting their own pace in this adventure, while enjoying a high-quality environment as well as useful advice from experienced professionals.
Following the same route as the rally, after the competitors have gone through, the raiders will be able to enjoy the atmosphere in the bivouac, alongside the best drivers and riders, on two wheels or four. A raid not quite like other raids, as technical assistance on the terrain will be put in place by TL Compétition and Outback Import, under the supervision of Patrick Lardeau.
The dates of the 2010 OiLibya Rally of Tunisia
29th April: The vehicles board the ship in Marseille
30th April and May 1st: Technical and administrative checks in Gammarth
May 1st: Prologue on the beach
May 2nd: Stage 1 - Tunis /Douz
May 3rd: Stage 2 - Douz/ Nekrif
May 4th: Stage 3 - Nekrif/Nekrif
May 5th: Stage 4 - Nekrif/ Ksar Ghilane
May 6th: Stage 5 - Ksar Ghilane/Ksar Ghilane
May 7th: Stage 6 - Ksar Ghilane/Douz
Prize-giving gala
2010/04/14 | 16:31 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/NPO
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