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SEE | Here’s how much it cost South African teams to partake in #Dakar2020

After two tough weeks, the 2020 Dakar rally drew its final curtain on Friday, 17 January. Teams and drivers who managed to see the final day gave a sigh of relief, knowing that their efforts were not in vain.

And most times, just finishing the Dakar is reward enough for your efforts.

For Toyota Gazoo Racing, the race was a bitter-sweet event after the team finished the grueling race in second place. Overall victory was on the cards, but punctures and navigational errors cost them dearly in the end.

Other South African teams - both privateers and smaller teams - saw varying degrees of success, but in the end proved that we can compete against the world’s best.

Partaking in the Dakar is by no means a small feat, especially given the financial side of things. That being said, how much does it cost to participate in the event?

Note: The costs below excludes the finances needed to prepare for the Dakar.


What were your standout moments of this year's Dakar rally? Email us.

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                       Image: Motul SA

A few million

Terence Marsh, CEO of Motul-backed Red-Lined Motoring Adventures, gave an indicative costing on how much money #Dakar2020 required.

According to Marsh, the budget for a high-level entry, for a team like Toyota Gazoo Racing, is around R5-million, or more. This excludes the acquisition of an FIA-spec vehicle costing between R4-million and R7-million. This cost could be more for some teams.

A mid-level entry carries a budget of R4-million, after an FIA-spec vehicle of about R4-million and R7-million. Again, costs could exceed R7-million.

For privateers, an FIA-spec vehicle can cost between R3-million and R7-million, while a total budget of around R3-million can be added on top of that.

READ: History rewritten as world's toughest race concludes

toyota,toyota gazoo racing,dakar

                       Image: MotorPress

What the budget covers

Included in the total budget is the Dakar entry-fee of around R480 000 for car, driver, and co-driver. Each technician joining the Dakar needs to be entered at R170 000. This price includes three meals per day, as well as two square meters for your tent.

Between 32 and 40 tyres are needed per vehicle, but that R280 000 is covered in your budget, as well as fuel (R250 000). The average spares bucket per vehicle is around R1.2-million to R1.8-million.

If teams require to do so, an assistance truck can be specified at an additional R320 000. This, according to Marsh, can bring about huge relief when you’re stuck during a stage.

Given the financial implications of the Dakar, one can understand why simply finishing it is such a big achievement for many. Here's to seeing a return on your investment.

dakar

                       Image: Motul SA

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