| On the fourth of this month, Dakar Rally organizer | | | | cancellation, since we prepared for this rally for an |
| Amaury Sport Organization officially announced that | | | | entire year and were extremely well equipped for this |
| the rally will not be held due to the significant safety | | | | sporting challenge," he told SuperSport. |
| concerns divulged by the French Government in | | | | It seems that the Volkswagen muffler will be taking a |
| connection with the stages in Mauritania. | | | | short rest in Dakar. "We fully respect the decision for |
| After different exchanges with the French | | | | safety purposes, which also have absolute priority for |
| government particularly the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, | | | | us. The cancellation is a great disappointment for |
| the organizers of the Dakar decided to cancel this | | | | every member of the Volkswagen Motorsport team, |
| year's edition of the rally, which is set from the 5th to | | | | particularly as everybody was looking forward to |
| the 20th of January between Lisbon and Senegal's | | | | starting this fair sporting competition," said Volkswagen |
| capital. | | | | Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. |
| Based on the current international political tension and | | | | Dakar should have finished, as is tradition, after 15 |
| the murder of four French tourists last 24th of | | | | stages and about 9,300 kilometers in the Senegalese |
| December linked to a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic | | | | capital city. The supposedly 30th edition of the race |
| Maghreb and also and mainly the direct threats | | | | would involve over 550 car, truck and bike drivers. |
| launched directly against the race by terrorist | | | | Last year, 300 of 490 entrants reached the finish line |
| organizations, no other decision but the cancellation of | | | | after crossing deserts, scrubland and savannas. The |
| the sporting event could be taken by A.S.O, according | | | | notorious toughness was highlighted in 2007 by the |
| to a Dakar release. | | | | deaths of French rider Eric Aubijoux, who suffered a |
| "It is with great regret that Volkswagen acknowledges | | | | heart attack during an untimed section near Dakar, and |
| the cancellation of the 30th Dakar Rally," said a release | | | | South African motorcyclist Elmer Symons who died in |
| following the announcement a day prior to the | | | | a crash during the fourth stage in Morocco, reported |
| scheduled start of the endurance classic. "The safety | | | | The Canadian Press. |
| of every single participant has absolute priority and for | | | | The rally has other fears. France's government |
| this reason Volkswagen completely and utterly | | | | cautioned organizers Thursday to avoid Mauritania |
| endorses the decision made by the organizers ASO | | | | after four French family members were killed, while |
| to cancel the start of the Dakar Rally originally | | | | picnicking on a holiday there. |
| scheduled for 5 January," said Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, a | | | | In a statement, rally organizers said that they had |
| Board Member with the responsibility for Technical | | | | taken France's warning into account, adding they had |
| Development at Volkswagen. | | | | also received guarantees from the Mauritanian |
| "We are obviously very unhappy about the | | | | government. |