The prestigious and tough
Dakar Rally 2015 from January 3 to January 17, 2015 will, for the first time
see an Indian participating. Daredevil, adrenaline junkie, star sportsman –
words fall short while describing India’s finest racing champ – C S Santosh. Energy
drink major Red Bull has announced that C S Santosh will be the first Indian to
participate in the Dakar Rally. The announcement was made during a press meet
in Mumbai.
Santosh said, “I’m thrilled to
be the first Indian to be at Dakar. From my crash at Abu Dhabi last year, which
left me with third degree burns, to standing here right now, it’s been an
amazing journey. Last two years have been rigorous training for me with my team
at Kini Red Bull and with their support moving forward, things look exciting…
the real journey starts from here” .
From motocross and super-cross
to dirt tracks and rallies, Santosh has proved time and again why he deserves
the title of India’s best rider. Santosh is the only rider to have won the 14th
Raid De Himalaya Trophy in the first attempt. A four-time Supercross Champion
in the national circuit, Santosh has also won a number of races in the Sri Lankan
and Asian Championship.
Also present at the press meet
was renowned South African motocross champion and Red Bull athlete, Anthony
Raynard.
The Dakar Rally is an annual
rally raid organised by Amaury Sport Organisation. For 2015, the Dakar
organisers ASO want to take the world’s toughest race back to its origins by
opening up the exhausting marathon stages to all classes. The start and finish
line will be back in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital city, which first hosted
the rally in 2009. But not everything will be a nod to the past. Rest day will
be in Iquique but on different days for different classes: cars and trucks will
rest on January 10th, while bikes and quads on the 12th - that means more Dakar
action. The Dakar 2015 makes excursions into Bolivia and Chile on a looping
9000 km route to Termas de Río Hondo and back to Buenos Aires.