To Survive, Dakar Imagines a Greener Future

Since its inception, the Dakar has always aimed to go beyond mere sporting competition to address societal and environmental challenges.

As early as 1985, with Daniel Balavoine and Thierry Sabine, the program “Paris-Dakar, a heartfelt challenge” initiated a solidarity tradition, marked by projects such as access to clean water in Africa and the fight against poverty in South America. More recently, the event has engaged in the Middle East, inevitably reevaluating these noble values given the unpredictable respect for human rights in these new regions. Several actions have fortunately been undertaken, including support for the Help Center organization, dedicated to children with disabilities.

But the event is also a unique technological laboratory. The Dakar Future program was also launched in 2021 to accelerate the adoption of alternative energies. Dacia, with its Sandrider running on 100% synthetic fuel, or Ford M-Sport, using biofuels, illustrate this momentum. Mini X-Raid and Toyota Gazoo Racing also adopt these solutions, reducing carbon emissions by up to 70%. The goal: to mainstream these practices among all participants within a few years.

Hybrid vehicles have also demonstrated their competitiveness against top teams, paving the way for initiatives like the Mission 1000 project. This initiative requires participants to cover 1,000 km with innovative engines, testing their reliability and autonomy under extreme conditions.

The Dakar also aims to be a platform for innovative technologies, encouraged by incentives such as Fan Boost, where the public votes for their favorite project, or Drive Mode, rewarding the best performance in energy autonomy. These innovations paint a future where competition and responsibility go hand in hand, making the Dakar a key player in the ecological transition of motorsport.

Follow Dakar with the special correspondents from AUTOhebdo. Videos will be available in the video section, as well as on the Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts.

ALSO READ: Segway takes on Dakar!