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Behind the curtains with Gernot Bauer
Gernot Bauer accompanies the 2009 Dakar held in Argentina and Chile as reporter and for eurosport.yahoo.de, he regularly has a look behind the curtains:
Tour of the bivouac
While touring the bivouac, you discover the true Dakar spirit and the real heroes. This doesn’t mean that the drivers of the works teams aren’t heroes, too. But the Dakar features two rallies held simultaneously: the one of the professionals and the one of the amateurs. And the latter again and again makes for minor dramas.
In the catering tent that traditionally is erected around a big campfire, you see dirt-covered faces, marked by dust, oil, dirt and minor bruises and scratches. The hands reaching for the bread are covered with weals, caused by operating the brakes and turning the throttle grip. And while the works drivers hit the road for their hotels, the guys contesting the Dakar without mechanics still are working all alone on completing the service on their bikes.
During the supper I also meet Yvan Muller, the reigning World Touring Car Champion, who is contesting his second Dakar. Following his debut appearance together with former winner René Metge, he has rented an SMG Buggy from Dakar veteran Phillipe Gache, this year. He greedily wolfs down his supper and invites me to accompany him to his camp for a little small talk. A camera crew shoots him during the preparations, he patiently answers the interview questions but then, he excuses himself: too tired, and in addition, he also has to produce the road-book.
On the following day, I send on his behalf – via facebook – an email to his girl friend Justine. She gives him moral support by sending him SMS’ from home and in the evenings, he gets short calls via his satellite telephone. Justine, who works together with me during the Le Mans 24 Hour Race, writes: “How I’d love to change places with you!”
Before entering his sandy sleeping bag tonight, Yvan certainly will have the chance of reading another encouraging SMS, on his mobile. After all, contesting the Dakar all alone is impossible. Raid rallying is a team sport.
