Lisbon Portugal Scoops Dakar Rally For 2006!!!

Lisbon scoops Dakar Rally!

The Dakar Rally, as it has become known following a number of changes in starting venues in recent years, will be starting in the Portuguese capital next year. The news was confirmed by sports promoter João Lagos, who expects receipts of around €5 million from the Portuguese stage of the event.

In comments to the weekly Expresso, the promoter confirmed he had acquired the rights for the world’s biggest rally to start in Lisbon in 2006.

He told the newspaper that this “is yet another strong contribution to the good image Portugal has attained out there after the European football championships”.

Despite strong candidacies launched by Barcelona (from where the 2005 race started) and Rome, João Lagos apparently managed to gain the upper hand due to his acquaintances with members of the company that organises the Dakar Rally.

The promoter further hopes that with the assistance of both the state and private entities an event is organised that will leave its mark in the history of the rally.

He adds that a successful Portuguese stage will probably see the rally return to the country in subsequent years, as “the odds of the race starting in Lisbon in coming years are very high”.

João Lagos concluded that he his hoping to orchestrate an eventful start to the rally in order to capture the attention of viewers across the world in the initial stages of the Lisbon-Dakar Rally.

The Portuguese stages are expected to be held in the Greater Lisbon Area, the Alentejo and the Algarve before crossing over to the south of Spain and North Africa.

http://www.the-news.net/

Vasco.R

 

LOL.....Hey c'mon, just a Portuguese guy happy to have another main venue such as this in his country thats all

And on that note, I also heard that we will be getting back the WRC "Rally of Portugal"!!!

Unfortunatly we lost Formula One. But oh well, maybe we'll get that back soon too since the track has been redone....

P.S Did anyone watch the MotoGP in Estoril Portugal.

 

Thank you for the kind comments. Now you understand my point ....It's an honour to have such events. As for your question re: the Rally. Portugal is no stranger to rally racing....aside from many local events we have had the Portugal Rally years ago. And now I heard a rumour of its return.

Take care.