THE LAST GREAT RACE - part 2 of 2; What makes Dakar scary? The uncertainty.(Motorsports)

Byline: J.P. VETTRAINO It's impossible to know where a competitor has broken down or the most direct route to get there. The most reliable locator is the Dakar website, which allows fans to track whatever vehicle they choose. The support crew will get on the phone to the home country, where a friend or family member monitors the site, hoping it indicates the racer's last known location within the stage.

The finish rate in Dakar has never exceeded 40 percent, so there are typically a dozen or more broken competitors strewn across any given stage. More often than not the rally's ...

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