Repsol, sponsor of the Mitsubishi Ralliart car team and the KTM motorbike team, announced today that it is still going to send supplies to Africa with the Fundación Dakar Solidario caravan, that works in parallel with the rally, although the scheduled route will be changed.
The Fundación Dakar Solidario was planning to deliver 14 tonnes of medical supplies and aid to several hospitals in Mauritania, including among other things, wheelchairs, neo-natal monitoring systems, electro-scalpels and dressings. At this moment in time the Fundación is mulling over which countries will receive this aid, of great necessity in Africa.
Repsol has stated that it is of paramount importance for the race that the safety of all those participating is guaranteed. In this sense, although it is not known exactly what made the organisers take this drastic decision, with far-reaching effects, Repsol respects the measures taken by the organising committee. At the same time it wishes to express its total support for its drivers and riders who have shown their sporting spirit and that they are real professionals at all times even in the most adverse situations.
Since Repsol began to sponsor the Dakar again, back in 2001, its teams have become the most successful in this competition. In the last four editions of the rally they won two times in the motorbike category (Nani Roma in 2004 and Marc Coma in 2006) and three times in the car category (Stephane Peterhansel in 2005 and 2007 and Luc Alphand in 2006).
