December 12, 1995. Copyright, 1995, Graphic News. All rights reserved

SUN, SAND AND SWEAT Ð THE DAKAR RALLY GETS READY TO ROLL 
By Russell Lewis, Sports Editor

LONDON, December 12, Graphic News- The 18th Dakar rally begins in Granada, Spain on December 29, with an acceleration test Ð a series of 300m start-stop trials on parallel tracks that more closely resemble drag racing than rallying. Eighteen days and more than 7,500km later, the survivors will roll into Dakar, Senegal. Among the starters there are many ÔfirstsÕ for the rally. The first Lithuanian entrant Ð albeit at his second attempt. Biker Romuales Beresnivicius turned up too late for registration in the event last year having had difficulties getting a visa! The first ever U.S.-led team, under the management of Rodney Hall, will drive a U.S. Army, 4x4 Hummers, owned by all-action ÔTerminatorÕ star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who Ð perhaps wisely Ð has not entered himself in the event.
Formula 1 driver Bertrand Gachot makes the switch from tarmac to sand dunes to partner JapanÕs Koji Kuroshima in a Chevrolet Blazer, and Mitsubishi make their debut in the truck category.
The number of foreign (i.e. non-French) entrants in the race has increased by 60 per cent this year, putting them in the majority for the first time, with 56 per cent of registrations. Among the ÔforeignersÕ for the first time are three Irish and three English motorcycle entries.
The logistics of staging the race through the deserts of North Africa are mind-boggling.
1,500 people are actively involved during the rally, in addition to 230 in the Dakar organisation and 110 in the TV team. 38 official vehicles, eight helicopters and 22 aeroplanes will deliver everything from fuel to ÔTwelfth Night cakesÕ Ð 1,400 of them.
In all, 40,000 meals will be served, 30,000 loaves of bread will be consumed and 45,000 bottles of water will be swallowed. All-in-all a massive 25 tonnes of food.
Television coverage will amount to some 1,500 hours, on 107 national, cable and satellite channels, beaming pictures from Belgium to Brazil and from Austria to Australia. 
Adequate safety provisions are vital in the conditions in which the Dakar ralliers will race. To this end, there are eight medical cars, staffed by members of the 35-strong team of doctors, two ambulance helicopters, one aeroplane, and 3.5 tons of medical supplies at their disposal.
Fuel is paid for in advance by the entrants and delivered to refuelling points along the course. Access roads to these sites can be very difficult to navigate and just getting the fuel to the sites can be a competition in itself!
There are many hazards along the way, which will have varying effects according to the type of vehicle. The second leg, for instance, from Nador to Oujda, has narrow tracks which will call for complete concentration from the truck drivers. The following day provides a test of character for the car drivers Ð and the cars themselves Ð with rocky plateaux and alternating fast and twisty sections of the course.
Day six takes the field into the first sand dunes of the rally, where tremendous fitness and strength is required to balance a motorcycle. The longest stage of the rally comes on day 10, from El Mreiti to Tichit, as drivers negotiate more than 630km of sandy terrain, culminating in a cliff descent sand-slide.
On day 15, those brave enough, or mad enough, to have gone the distance arrive at Pink Lake Beach, Dakar, and the partying begins.

Source: TSO (Granada-Dakar Rally)