Budapest-Bamako

Just like the Olympics, the famed Paris to Dakar rally has in recent years become a venue for well-financed professional racers, shutting the door on the regular guy who wants to experience the thrills and adventure of a Europe-to-Africa rally.

The Budapest-Bamako has been created with these "regular" adventurers in mind. Feel the Dakar experience for a fraction of the cost.

From its humble roots the Budapest-Bamako has grown into a major international sporting and cultural event. Hundreds of drivers and adventurers set out each winter for Africa bringing direct aid to the world's poorest communities.

In 2005 only 45 teams lined up at the start line.

In 2008 over 400 people made the journey.

As the event constantly evolves the spirit remains the same:

Anyone, By anything, By any means.

The Budapest-Bamako is endorsed by the Government of Hungary

Despite recent rumors, the Budapest-Bamako will start from the Hungarian capital in 2009. Over 560 teams indicated interest in the 2009 run, while 180 teams have already joined next year's lineup.

DAILY COVERAGE OF THE 2008 RUN

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stages 15 and 16 - Nara-Segou-Bamako

Monday, 28 January 2008

The Great African Run comes to an end

Since the last pit stop of the race was a bit of a detour on the way to Bamako, most of the teams in the touring category decided to head straight to the finish line located in the capital of Mali. Many of them even had the time and the energy to stop in small villages along the way to spend some quality time with locals and enjoy the real Africa for the last time. Due to the incredibly tight competition, the racers didn't have this luxury. In fact, teams on the top of the board were so close to each other that - with just two stages left to go - it was still a three-way race.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 14 - Kiffa-Nara

Saturday, 26 January 2008

Little gifts and bush fire

Thanks to the generous and creative mechanics aboard the Volvo bus of the Budapest Public Transportation Company, the VW Beetle, which was handed its death sentence on the previous stage, is now back on the road again. The car is now one-wheel drive and on its way to Bamako, piloted by Gyula Mezei, a VJ of Music Television Hungary.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 13 - Tidjikja-Kiffa

Friday, 25 January 2008

Parc Budapest and a Red, Yellow, and Green Colored Well.

Yesterday's dawn saw the teams and their accompanying soldiers leaving the Saharan oasis of Tidjikja and embarking on the toughest stage in the history of the Budapest-Bamako. It was so tough in fact, that many of the racing teams decided to take an alternative route, which meant forgoing some of the geo-challenges and the points for successful solutions.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 12 - Nouakchott-Tidjikja

Thursday, 24 January 2008

Bottoms up

The racers of the Great African Run left the Mauritanian capital yesterday on route to the Saharan oasis of Tidjikja, only 750 kilometers away. Although paved roads lead to this charming little town from Nouakchott, all of the geo-challenges involved off-road sections in the rough desert.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 11 - B2 Beach-Nouakchott

Wednesday, 23 January 2008

High tide and sand banks

The teams that spent the night on B2-Beach woke up to find their tents covered in sand. During the orientation held at 7 am, only 12 teams were there to pick up their tasks for the shortest stage of this year's Budapest-Bamako. The rest of the racers were either stuck in the sand somewhere or were kept away from the beach by the tide that surrounded the sand banks.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 10 - Nouadhibou-B2 Beach

Tuesday, 22 January 2008

Arriving to Budapest-BamakoPartyBeach

Banc D'arguin National Park, Mauritania - The Budapest Bamako participants might have had some concerns regarding their safety and their welcome in Mauritania due to the cancellation of the Dakar. These concerns, however, quickly dissipated after they met the police commissioner of Nouadhibou and the president of the Mauritanian Tourism Association. The top cop even spent the night in the camp on the front seat of a Mercedes 220.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 9 - Dakhla-Nouadhibou

Monday, 21 January 2008

Minefields and Mauritanian-Hungarian friendship

In order to avoid long waiting times at the Moroccan border, most of the teams got off to an early start from the city of Dakhla. Others had to visit a local mechanic before they were able to get on their way for the last 400 kilometers of Moroccan controlled territory.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 8 - Tatooine-Dakhla

Sunday, 20 January 2008

Leaving Planet Tatooine

A beautiful sunrise warmly greeted the traveling visitors to Planet Tatooine before their 650 kilometer (400 miles) run along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It is an always inspiring, yet dangerous journey, and there are still live landmines remaining in the ground from the days of the dispute between Morocco and Mauritania over the territory found in the Western Sahara.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 7 - Tata-Tatooine

Saturday, 19 January 2008

Planet Tatooine conquered

Tata, Morocco - Tibor Villam and Tibor Molnar of team #122 had one obligation they needed to fulfill before getting back on the road for the next 480 kilometers of the race. The Western-Hungarian city of Tata sent their greetings along with some gifts to the Moroccan city bearing the same name. The mayor of the city and many of its residents dressed themselves in Hungarian folk attire and welcomed them with tea and a fantastic, folklore dance.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 6 - Tinerhir-Tata

Friday, 18 January 2008

Leaving the Atlas, reaching the Sahara

Tata, Morocco - The racers got a taste of what the weather is like back home as they awoke to freezing temperatures at 1,700 meters above sea level in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. At 7am, teams received their clues for this 580 kilometer (360 miles) leg of the Great African Run. After the three day super stage, only 3 points separated the Slovakian leaders from Team Sysman from Hungary. As one can imagine, these two leading teams were more than anxious to get back on the trail.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 5 - Nador-Tinerhir

Thursday, 17 January 2008

Crossing the Atlas Mountains with a rented Dacia

Tinerhir, Morocco - The final 852 kms (530 miles) of the three day run from Meyreuil to Tinerhir was also the first stage over North-African terrain. Complicated immigration laws, bumpy, dirt roads and endless, narrow stretches - where two cars can't pass each other at the same time - definitely were significant drags on the racers. By 11pm, however, most of the teams had made it to the pit stop in Tinerhir.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 4 - Murcia-Nador

Wednesday, 16 January 2008

The Great African Run finally reaches Africa

Nador, Morocco - When the ferry docked in Nador shortly after 4pm, it was the moment everyone was waiting for. More than a 100 teams prepared themselves for their first taste of African terrain. Despite the trouble with their petrol pump back in Austria, Team Velorex was also among the many racers using this packed ferry.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 3 - Meyreuil-Murcia

Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Three-day, 2,500 km Super Stage Now Underway

Murcia, Spain - The racers got off to an early start for the longest stage of the Great African Run. A hefty 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles), a ferry ride and the first bit of African terrain must be covered before they can reach their next pit stop in Tinerhir, Morocco on Wednesday.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 2 - Venice-Meyreuil

Monday, 14 January 2008

Finding Chuck Norris in Cannes

Meyreuil, France - A tough 776 kilometers (480 miles) on Italian and French highways was in store for racers on yesterday's stage of the Great African Run. At the 7am briefing - held in pouring rain - teams were handed their tasks. Among them was a geo-challenge involving Walker, Texas Ranger and a treasure hunt near Fort Saint-Jean.

Budapest-Bamako 2008: Stage 1 - Budapest-Venice

Sunday, 13 January 2008

First day, roll on

Venice, Italy - Rain, icy roads and cheering supporters greeted racers on the first day of this year's Great African Run. The "warm-up" stage of 705 kilometers (440 miles) mostly featured paved roads and highways. Teams in the racing category were faced with four geo-challenges.

Budapest-Bamako rally off to a rolling start

Saturday, 12 January 2008

The hottest party in the Sahara starts in Budapest

The 16-day Budapest-Bamako rally got underway on Saturday although some 20 participants - mostly from France and Spain - opted out after the Dakar rally was cancelled because of terrorist threats. No threats were called in on the Budapest-Bamako run and the contestants expect to roll into the Mali capital of Bamako in a bit over two weeks.