Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions... before departure.

HOW DO I GO ABOUT BUYING OR RENTING A CAR OR MOTORCYCLE FOR THE DAKAR? There are many manufacturers whether car or motorcycle which propose all inclusive package deals for the Dakar, either by purchasing or renting the vehicles, as well as assistance during the rally, allowing you to concentrate on your race. The list of these preparatory services is long ans we cannot mention every one on this website. You will find however a certain number of them as well as on the Forum where everyone is free to communicate messages. Compare all the offers proposed to you. Make sure you get all the precise details : what is included, what is excluded, payment plans.Go and visit the workshops where you can feel out the seriousness of the offer Find out what experience the representative has as well as what his real capabilities are. And especially, dont hesitate to ask us questions before makin your choice.

AM I UP-TO-DATE WITH MY VACCINATIONS? Compulsory: Yellow Fever. Bring your international vaccination card with you. Recommended: Hepatitis A and B, meningitis A and C.

IS MY PASSEPORT UP-TO-DATE? On the day you enter the country your passport must be valid for at least six months more.

AND MY VISAS FOR THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES CROSSED? We remind you that each time you arrive or leave a country you will have to do by youself the custom formalities. Usualy custom and police are present on the bivouac. Information also during the briefing when necessary.

WHAT ABOUT CONTACT LENSES? You should take a "comfort" kit including a lipstick, hydrating cream, Kleenex handkerchiefs, humid wipes (as you won't get a shower every day) and toilet paper etc You will have more room in a car than on a bike for your personal belongings, but please think about what is really necessary.

WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN THE TRUNK TRANSPORTED BY THE ORGANISATION? Your sleeping bag, a parts kit etc. The organisation transports by daily plane, 50 kg trunks plus 2 wheels for each motorcyclist.

WHAT CURRENCY SHOULD I TAKE AND HOW MUCH? For Europe, obviously euros. In Morocco, the dirham. 1 euro = 10 DH In Burkina or Senegal 1 euro = 656 CFA You should take some money in case of necessity during the race. Apart from personal expenses, you will normally have nothing to spend. In the event of a problem and if you have to be helped by a local, you will have to pay him. We generally advise that you always carry a minimum of 1500 euros for unforeseen events for bikes and 6000 for cars.

AND FOOD? A copious breakfast is served every morning before the start. Various slow sugar foods, energy bars, concentrated milk etc. are on hand to nourish you throughout the day. You should also fill up with water for the day before leaving the bivouac. A hot balanced meal will be served every evening in the bivouac from 19:30 with pasta for those that want it. A bar serving fresh drinks, water, tea and coffee is open 24 hours a day in the bivouac.

AND THE SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS? Tents are set up by the organisers. After the dinner and the briefing you can settle down with your sleeping bag to sleep. More and more riders prefer to bring their own small tent.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I FALL ILL DURING THE RACE? A yellow coloured "PC mdical" tent is available for competitors, open 24 hours a day. Doctors, physiotherapists and all sorts of medicines are able. If you are receiving medical treatment, don't forget to mention it during the administrative checks and remember to bring your medicines. Medical assistance vehicles called "tangos" are also on hand every day throughout the circuit to assist if you have any problems.

WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE DURING THE DAKAR? For the European section, don't forget that its winter. Temperatures stays around 0. In Morocco, the days are a bit warmer, ranging from 10-15 C, but cool nights can go down to under 10C. The following part of the journey is the same, but warms up in Burkina Faso. And contrary to what some believe, it can get very cold in the desert, especially at night. My advice is to be prepared with a light polar fleece jacket, gloves and a hat that you can take off if its warm or a sleeping bag. Its better than having nothing if it cold. Think ahead.

ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES FIA or FIM, RACE INFORMATION? Have I sent off my application for an international licence to the Federation? During the administrative checks, each rider must present, a 2004 international licence, issued by his national sports federation affiliated to the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM).

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY GPS? The technicians will be present, each day near the plane "ELF" and also at the liaison start each morning.

WHEN AND WHERE DO I GET MY ROAD BOOK? At the finish of each stage for the special stage the next day

WHAT IS THE REST DAY? It is a day when there is no race (january 12th). It enables latecomers to catch up the rest of the rally and others to rest a little and carry out any repairs to their car or motorcycle for the second part of the race.

AFTER THE FINISH HOW DO I RETRUN HOME? ASO, through its travel agency VSO, offers several ways of returning home from Dakar by plane. For the motorcycle and trunk sent by plane at the beginning of the rally ASO offers a direct repatriation service from Dakar to Paris. You can recover your motorcycle and material from the same place in Paris. Our service provider offers an alternative formula providing for delivery of everything directly to your home. Upon your arrival a Dakar, you will be given instructions on how to go about leaving your vehicle, motorcycle, car or truck at the port. Then. ASO will inform you of the date and logistics concerning its recuperation in France. Your motorcycle and equipment can be picked up in the same place in Paris (CDG airport). Our services can also propose transportation solutions so that you can have direct home delivery for everything. The fees are available from our supplier.

WHERE DO I OBTAIN FUEL? For the motorcycle fuel is included in the package youve paid to ASO. Refuelling during the special stages in Africa is organised by ASO, indicated in the road book and confirmed every evening during the briefing during which we will also provide you with information on the refuelling stop at the finish of the next day's stage. For the cars and trucks you will receive end of october, once the reconnaissance mission is over, a specific information in order to place your order with ASO for the bivouac where there is no petrol station. For the other days the stations will be indicated on the road book

AUTONOMY? For cars, the autonomy of your vehicle should be minimum 800 km. For motorcycles, at least 350 km. In all cases, you should add 10% security margin. It would be pretty silly to abandon because youre out of fuel, no?

WHAT CAN I DO IF I HAVE A PROBLEM OR NEED INFORMATION AT THE BIVOUAC?

A plane called "PC Course" is available for anyone that needs it 24 hours a day. Even if you arrive very late at night there will always be someone available to help you. You will be able to find the classifications and other information on the race here. Officials from the various auto and motorcycle federations can also be found here and they will be able to answer any questions or respond to any complaints you have about the classifications. We strongly advise that you be present at the briefings. A lot of advice and information on the race is presented daily at the briefings given by the race management.

IF I HAVE A PROBLEM DURING THE RACE AM I ALL ALONE? NO. Your progression in the special is followed throughout the day by the race PC thanks to the different check points called "CP" on the tracks and to the organization vehicles which are taking the same roads as you. The information communicated is analyzed and treated accordingly. A sweeper truck closes the track and thanks to the information given by the race PC, it knows exactly where all the motorcycles and cars are located of they have not yet reached the bivouac. The truck is perfectly knowledgeable of the terrain and never leaves any one behind him. Every motorcycle, car and truck is equipped with a distress beacon, an Argos for example, which allows for its localization within a 10 meter range. May we remind you that this beacon should only be used in case of serious health problems or a mechanical problem after having spent a night and morning after your breakdown wihtout having been localized or aided by a helicopter, plane or organization vehicle. Please remember that depending on the difficulty of the special, the sweeper truck could be far from where you are. So please be patient. Attention: when you use your distress beacon and/or when you board the sweeper truck with your motorcycle, or if you are car pilots and co-pilots, you are out of the race and are not allowed to start again the day after even if you have repaired your vehicle in the meantime. For cars, the sweeper truck cannot take your vehicle, so one of you has to arrive at the next bivouac with the sweeper or on your own, depending on where you are, in order to organize the recuperation of your vehicle. Staff members from ASO will be able to help you in case you are inexperienced in this type of situation. They will introduce you to certified local correspondents who can garantuee your safety.

HOW CAN I INFORM MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS? Your GSM will work in a number of Morocan, Mauritanian, Malian and Senegal bivouacs provided you have subscribed to the "international" option. A media centre is available in all bivouacs with telephones, fax, e-mail, satellite internet connections for all competitors for six euros per minute of communication. You should avoid the rush-periods reserved for journalists