Dakar

[werner]

Didn't you all feel very annoyed when the ASO cancelled the Dakar-rally? Maybe the greatest adventure in the world, and on of the greatest races was cancelled because of some angry jealous bearded men can't behave themselves.
Not only was I dissapointed for the exitement I was going to miss, but I was also sad for the Senegalese that their event was't happening this year, and the next. A big blow for a country that is maybe the only one in the region that is able to have a reasonably democratic, free society. They really deserved to be the host of such a great event. Unfortunalely their less evolved neighbours blew it for them.

To be less dependent from the surrounding countries a circuit race might be safer. That's why I thought of a circuit in Dakar. The series that maybe would like to race here is the FIA-GT series. They really want to be a world-championship, and therefore you need races in at least 3 continents. There aren't a lot of opportunities in Africa, but this is one, and it's relatively close to Europe. The administation of Fia GT isn't afraid of using interesting and new tracks either, they have created races in the streets of Bucharest, Romenia and San Luis, Argentinia, the latter witch looks to be very spectacular.
Given the climate it would be a great season-opener. In februari temperatures are a bit above 20 deg. Celcius, and it's usually dry.

So let's go to the track. It's located around the national stadium, giving plenty room for paddocks, press-room etc.
The track itself is a bit schizofrenic, with the first part very fast and the last part around the stadium more technical. It's about 4,5km long.
The part between the Senegal-hairpin and the stadium isn't there jet, that will have to be built, and probably the surface of the rest of the track won't be good enough either, so it will probably have to be repaved. But otherwise it probably won't need anymore preparation than any other street-circuit.

[werner]

****, Roger Milla isn't from Senegal, but from Cameroun....

[bio]

Yep, Cameroon's first megahero - four World Cups, from 1982 in Spain till 94 in the USA - what a player he was!

The track is awesome.

bio

[hadlou]

not bad at all, very fast section with slower section, hairpins...
an endurance race here would be difficult for some guys

[werner]

Why would that be? 2 long rests each lap, and though temperatures might be high, (average max. temp 27deg. in januari, 31 in the middle of the summer) in the from september to april, humidity is low. When you want a wet race, you should go there in august. On average there will be 254 mm of rain that month, witch is more than twice the amount of rain that falls in Wales in November.

[johntt]

I like it, would be good for FIA-GT like you said, its also the kind of street track that the ALMS would go to.

[werner]

No need for the Senegalese to close the streets for racing anymore, apparently a permanent track 60km south of Dakar has been built by some Belgians. Next year it should be in use full-time, using the nice climate and the good facilties of the beachresort it is situated in. Some national racing has already been done over there.

http://www.autosport.nl/forum/index....sg3430#msg3430