Communique 9 - Niamey, Niger
Friday 14 January 2000

Motor Sport’s Biggest Airlift Underway

Arguably the biggest airlift the motor sport world has ever seen is underway in Africa as three huge Antonov 124 cargo planes work around the clock to move the entire Paris-Dakar-Cairo Rally from Niamey in Niger to Sabha in Libya.

The Airlift was initiated after the French Government advised the event’s organisers not to compete in Niger following threats of terrorist activity in the region.

The first cargo plane took off from Niamey during the night of January 12, and throughout yesterday and today in blazing sunshine the airlift continues, carrying in 320 vehicles in total over four days of constant flying between Niger and Libya.

Each flight carries an average of 90 tonnes with the record standing at 102, leaving the competitors and support people standing on the runway amazed that such a huge aircraft can actually get off the ground!

So far the rotations are running on time and the organisers are optimistic that the event can restart as scheduled on January 17.

The restart will take place near the desert airstrip at Sabha, and the first leg after the restart will finish in Waw el Kabir after 446km, 146 km of which will be driven competitively providing the airlift is completed on time.

Should the airlift be delayed, the entire section will be run as liaison to allow the competitors to regroup.

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION IN NIAMEY