The Dakar challenge, a name borrowed to make it sound like the big car rally that used to run down West Africa, But actually nothing like it and doesn’t even finish in Dakar. That said we are The original Banger Challenge, that has spawned so many others. Established 2002 running yearly. Supporting the Rotary club of The Gambia with our charitable vehicle donations at the end and raising thousands of pounds yearly for good causes.
Entrants from all over the world but essentially leaving from your front door going via the ever changing landscape of France and Spain, Through the vibrant iconic cities of Morocco, into the sandy Western Sahara and desert of Mauritania, laid back Senegal and finally The Gambia thee smiling Sunshine Coast.. A distance of about 4400 miles in a very unsuitable non ULEZ compliant old shopping car. What could possibly go wrong.
Yearly participants age from a minimum of 17 to 87+ with little to no mechanical knowledge take part in this adventure of a life time in their trusty rusty old banger.
Leaving in January every year the Dakar (also know as the Plymouth Banjul challenge) gets you away from cold, wet and miserable European weather and takes you to the nice, warm and sunny African shorts and t shirt weather. It should take 21 day from your front door to the finish line (if all goes top plan!). Taking in nice smooth roads, Broken roads, Non existent roads, dust tracks, corrugated dust (you’ll know it once on it) Mountain tops, Mountain passes, Gorges, deserts Sand, Soft sand, Beach sand an all the other stuff in between. All to be taken at a safe and sensible speed of course. This is not a rally or a race. It is a bunch of like minded people all driving in the same direction, all looking out for each other making sure you all make it to the end. With or without car. This is why it’s called a challenge!. Limited to 20 Vehicles
The original Banger Rally Challenge, that has spawned so many others. In December 2002, the first group of hopeful souls left the UK in a motley collection of vehicles, optimistically believing that Julian Nowill knew what he was doing, and had substance and experience behind his words. Despite later finding out to the contrary, this first event was a great success and most of the 42 Teams even made it to Banjul.
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