When preparing the terrain for the Dakar’s riders, drivers and crews, the stage of writing the road-book is crucial. This is the point at which the route is definitively confirmed. Etienne Lavigne and David Castera have completed the survey of the first 7 stages of the Dakar 2013.
The small “recce” team was formed around Etienne Lavigne and David Castera, to delve into the task of writing the road-books for the first part of the rally. In the autumn, everything that has been envisaged and laid down on maps in the previous months has to be examined in detail and on the terrain. Four cars in total make up the procession that takes to the pistes and dunes of the rally three months in advance. “We rode for 15 days, which allowed us to put the 7 stages down on paper, not quite up until the rest day,” explains David Castera upon his return. “We have had some setbacks and mechanical breakdowns which cost us a few hours here and there but, on the whole, we need two to three days for each stage. The challenge of the Peruvian part was the dosage of difficulties: we want to make the most of the countryside and terrain that Peru has to offer, without leading our drivers into insurmountable segments right away!” The competitors in the Dakar 2012 will remember this part of the desert fondly but with gritted teeth, and this time it will be tackled at the beginning of the course.
Despite the determination to show restraint, Castera and his group still managed to break two records during this fifteen or so reconnaissance trips: “the first is having spent a week in complete self-sufficiency, without a hotel, etc. which also means going without showers! Then we also climbed to 4970 metres in altitude. I can’t say where but the Dakar has never gone this high before.” For a detailed explanation, we will have to wait until 21 November. In the meantime, the work goes on in South America, especially for the representatives from the three countries who are accompanying Lavigne and Castera tour by tour on the “recces”: “They have already started making requests upstream, but depending on the changes we have made to the route, each of them will request route authorisations wherever necessary. For example, if we are in close proximity to a mine or a private holding, the owner must be contacted so as to request their approval.” Similarly, Francisco, who is responsible for local security, has taken care to note down all the places where the presence of law enforcement people will be necessary on the big day, as well as the traffic restrictions that will have to be put in place. With the help of all of this information, a new series of location recces will be organised with those responsible for the services involved. A “recce” a season…