Rally Diabolico is an event that tests the limits of every competitor who dares to embark on the four day competition. Held April 2-5, 2014 in some of the most remote desert dunes of Sonora, Mexico, Rally Diabolico will traverse terrain only equaled by rally stages found in South America and Africa.
There will be no arrows, no burned in track and no secret lines developed during hours of prerunning. Those who brave the challenge will have only a road book, compass and their wits to guide them.
Rally Diabolico is the brainchild of Dakar veterans Darren Skilton and Scott Whitney who wanted others to share the adventure and challenge of navigating rally style through enormous dunes and remote, never-raced-upon roads. There will be a central pit area for support so multiple chase vehicles will not be needed, and the location is isolated yet only a half hour or so south of the U.S. / Mexico border.
The rally is open to bikes and cars that will be making their way over untracked, open terrain to reach a series of waypoints. Each competitor will have a GPS, but it will show no roads or course to follow, just mileage and compass headings to guide them.
So what makes the rally “Diabolico?” The road books are accurate and correct, but they do not guide competitors step by step; they must figure it out in order to be successful. Every mile traveled requires making critical decisions. You may start behind others who have left tracks in the sand but do you follow them or make your own way? Are they on the right heading and taking the fastest line? Competitors can’t make that assumption. The winner will have earned it by making the least navigational mistakes and taking the best line through the terrain.
“Competitors will get a taste of what it’s like in North Africa miles from any roads or civilization,” said Scott Whitney, “They won’t see anyone other than other competitors. It will be scary, it will be intense, it will be the most challenging thing many will ever do, but it will also be their most rewarding accomplishment.”
For more information visit www.rallydiabolico.com
