Australasian Safari: The silence before the storm – Cyril Despres in the focus

As in the previous year, the “Safari Headquarters” are beautifully
situated directly on the beach of the Perth-suburb “Joondalup”. In the
most parts of Europe nearly impossible, here the paddock is based right on
a green lawn in a park – but inside the dunes of the Australian west
coast. You can hear the breaking waves from your tent – beautiful!

What for Africa the wild dogs and cats, for this region these are wild,
but harmful crows with the size of a adult cat. The birds are singing
their melodies to get their attraction – and food. If you feed them, you
maybe also could pet them… But most of them are really cheeky – you must
have an eye on your barbecue, otherwise the big crows will steal a steak
or sausage…

This year, the “superstar” of the rally is not only the Australian
“Michael Schumacher” and last year’s winner Craig Lowndes (factory driver
Holden / General Motors Australia). Next to “Rally Princess” Annie Seel
from Sweden (the only Rally Lady) and Husaberg factory rider Manuel
Lucchese from Italy it´s especially the French Cyril Despres (KTM factory
driver), three-time winner of the legendary Dakar Rally who is in the
focus.

Especially for Despres, his Australian colleague (and last year’s winner)
Ben Grabham and Annie Seel, KTM had invited the night before for the “KTM
Safari Party” at the 5-star club “The Breakwater”. For charity reasons
they also organized an auction – with incredible results. What we normally
collect as “rally-waste” like a souvenir on rally routes, brought here a
lot of money. The rally fans outdid themselves spending a lot of money for
simple (but signed) KTM-spare parts from Cyril Despres and signed pictures
- the photos went away for 1,200 Australian dollars, a plastic cover even
brought $ 3,500.

The Safari Rally is very popular inside the motorcycle scene, the quads
and cars are more clear, side-by-sides (SSV) are not involved. Really a
pity, because the rally is perfect for all classes. However, the
restrictive import regulations in Australia destroys many plans for
foreign participants. Transport takes two months, and then three weeks the
“quarantine” – no joke. Annie Seel and Co. rent their bikes here – that’s
cheap and you only need to come by plane and are ready to race.

“I just do not understand. Since the three years I´m starting here, I’m
the only woman,” laughs Annie Seel. For several years, the German
concurrent Tina Meier wants to come, but somehow it never works. “When the
time comes and Tina will start, then we will compete as the only women -
like in the Dakar Rally.”

16 cars are at the start, the only foreign team is Rachan Trairat from
Thailand and Harry Suzuki from Japan. Both go with a T2-Isuzu D-Max – but
not by Isuzu Motor Sports Australia, the car came directly from the Isuzu
team from Thailand. Isuzu legend Bruce Garland cannot participate in this
year, so his codriver Harry Suzuki will help the Thailand driver. Isuzu
Australia is a good address to hire a car for rallying here: “We offer
different D-Max ready-to-race for rent,” says Harry Suzuki. So sports
fans: Remember this, we could help with contacts.

So in the cars three factory teams are at the start. “Holden / General
Motors Australia” with two Colorado Pickup V8 (compared with the old Isuzu
D-Max, but with more powerful engine), “Mitsubishi Mining Australia” with
a “Challenger” (L200 pickup truck with enclosed body) and “Isuzu Thailand”
(D-Max Pickup T2).

47 bikes will compete – including nearly all Australian factory teams
(KTM, Husaberg, Yamaha). 6 quads are also competing in the race, 15
motorcycles and quads will start in the ADTV-category. Overall, the rally
lists 84 starters – a good quote for the “Down Under” marathonrally.

On Thursday evening, the rally starts with a official Showstart in the
Hillarys Marina of Joondalup, on Friday the prologue will follow. In this
year especially the prologue could be nice – as we heard, the route will
be at the beach… heading direction north. Be with us – we are looking
forward to an exciting week in Australia.