If you've just come back from space, now's a good time to know that things have been kicking off in the Middle East this year with the US/Israel war against Iran. But as of September 8, strikes on Abha, Najran and Jazan in Saudi Arabia, where the Dakar takes place, sparked rumors that the 2027 Dakar might be cancelled. Now, the event's organizer has addressed the rumors.
On September 15, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), which organizes the Dakar, said, "The rumors regarding a possible cancellation are unfounded. The organization of Dakar 2027 is progressing as planned." If your Middle Eastern geography isn't as good as it used to be, rockets hit the far south along the Yemeni border, but the 2027 Dakar route runs through the west, starting and finishing at KAEC on the Red Sea.
Although the event's organizers seem confident there won't be any safety risk to competitors, the majority of motorsport events have pulled out of the region, and it's worth noting that almost all did so before the September 8 attacks. Formula 1 canceled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs, the FIA canceled the World Endurance Championship (WEC) round at Qatar, the WEC canceled the Bahrain 8 Hours, and the WRC canceled its rally in Saudi Arabia. The only major motorsport championship that hasn't completely turned away from the area is MotoGP, which postponed the Qatar GP from April to November.
The problem is that the situation shows no definite sign of getting better and, at times, looks like it's getting worse. But the organizers can't wait until closer to the January 2 start date to call the event off, as competitors and teams need to start sending their gear to Saudi Arabia in November. And this is putting pressure on a number of the main competitors.
Speaking about the situation with Speedweek, KTM Racing Director Pit Beirer said, "As long as the race remains on the calendar, we have to be prepared. But of course there are people in our team too who aren’t keen on flying off in that direction. We’re keeping a close eye on the news and hoping for the reassuring news that the Strait of Hormuz is open, that they’ve reached an agreement, and that everything is calming down.
If the bigger picture were to stabilize, then everything else would settle down very quickly too. Then we’d be very keen to travel there. But as things stand at the moment, the outlook is bleak. And time is working against us. We’re off to the Morocco Rally now, and then we’ll have to get the equipment ready for the Dakar."
KTM's rally-raid success at the Dakar is legendary, and the brand's consumer-facing products benefit from it. So, if Beirer says that the situation looks "bleak", I'd take that with a lot of weight. But if the ASO and its Saudi partners decide to go ahead with the event, which, as of the time of writing, they are, the decision of whether it's safe to compete will fall on the shoulders of the competitors. Do you think teams should pull the trigger and go, or hold back until safety in the country shows signs of improving?
