Strange incident: pirates attack the Dakar Rally squad

The Dakar Rally now takes place in other locales rather than between Paris and Dakar due to safety concerns. However, it appears that safety is a concern even in those other locations, as a Brazilian Dakar squad was reportedly attacked by pirates.

Renowned South American off-road racer Rodrigo Varela will be competing in this year’s Dakar Rally with navigator and friend Enio Bozzano.

The Can-Am UTV, which Varela and Bozzano will be driving in the rally, was shipped to Saudi Arabia over the Christmas season, so the circumstances surrounding their entry could not be even stranger.

A phone call telling Varela and his family that Houthi pirates attacked the ship that their car was being transported on arrived as they were enjoying Christmas dinner.

The crew was able to drive the pirates away, but they had to take a different path to the beginning, which added twenty more days to the arrival time.

The inaugural Dakar duo was severely impacted by the incident, as it appeared that their hopes of competing had been dashed. But when they looked for a replacement, they discovered the identical Can-Am car in Portugal belonging to a driver who was not competing in the 2024 Dakar Rally.

“We had to make modifications and adaptations in a hurry. Fortunately, it worked and we passed the Dakar inspection,” said Varela, as quoted by Autosport.

Still, the Brazilian friends have more obstacles ahead of them. The car is present, but the spare components are not, since they are also on board the ship that was attacked. Varela therefore hopes fellow rally participants will be willing to lend a helping hand here and there.

“We still don’t have all the parts we will need during the Dakar, which requires a lot of maintenance. To do this, we are counting on the help of other teams.

“The Dakar is a mix of racing and adventure. And this makes solidarity one of its most notable brands. People help each other when they can.”

On Friday, Varela and Bozzano launched the prologue and the first stage with success in spite of all the obstacles.

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