Participating in the African Dakar was an experience unlike any other. The challenges we faced were unique and required creative problem-solving. One such instance was during the 2006 stage between Atar and Tidjikja in Mauritania, where we encountered a breakdown that could have been disastrous.
Our Iveco truck suffered a radiator fan failure, which exploded and damaged the radiator. This was a critical situation, as the organization only retrieved motorcycles, leaving us to fend for ourselves. Our priority was to save the vehicle and find a way to repair it, but we were over 400 kilometers from Atar, with 300 of those kilometers consisting of treacherous dunes.
Encountering the Desert Pirates
As we navigated this challenging situation, we encountered a group of Mauritanian “desert pirates” who appeared in a white pickup truck. They offered to sell us diesel fuel at a discounted price, as well as other essential items like wheels. We were forced to negotiate with them to secure a ride to Atar to purchase the necessary spare parts.
The initial asking price was 8,000 euros, which we refused. However, after some deliberation, we were able to secure a better price, roughly half of the original amount. I embarked on a nine-hour journey to Atar in the pickup truck, accompanied by the pirates, and another nine hours back. My pilot, Pep Vila, later confessed that he had concerns for my safety during this time.
Despite the risks, the pirates proved to be skilled navigators, deflating and inflating the tires by hand using a bicycle pump. We only got stuck once, at dawn the next day, but it was intentional so we could pray. After the prayer, we continued on our journey, eventually repairing the truck and making our way to Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, although the race was already two or three days ahead of us.