Dakar champ discovers Western Australia ahead of Australasian Safari
Date: 22-Sep-2011
Three-time Dakar Champion and international motorsport celebrity Frenchman Cyril Despres is in Perth experiencing WA’s extraordinary coastal wonders before taking on the gruelling eight-day, 4000 kilometre outback motorsport challenge, the Australasian Safari.Cyril said that in his ten years of touring, during which he had visited thirty to forty countries, his visit to Rottnest was one of his top three experiences – besides the racing.
“Snorkelling Rottnest’s bays and seeing sea lions was a real highlight – I couldn’t believe the experience and an island like this could exist. Cycling is part of my training for competition, so I felt a real connection here since bicycle is the main mode of transport around the island.”
Cyril takes to the Australian Outback from Thursday 22nd September to compete in the toughest endurance motorsport event in the Asia Pacific Region, the Australasian Safari, an off-road adventure which sees competitors on two and four wheels tackle the remote, rugged and stunning terrain of Western Australia.
The 2011 Australasian Safari will be the Dakar Champion’s first Australian event, as he takes on some of the World’s harshest desert landscapes in the West Australian Outback.
The route for 2011 Australasian begins at Hillarys Boat Harbour tonight (Thursday 22nd September) for a Ceremonial Start with overnight stops in Geraldton (Friday 23rd September) for the Prologue, then Mount Magnet (Saturday 24th September), Sandstone (Sunday 25th September), two nights in Laverton (Monday 26th / Tuesday 27th September), two nights in Leonora (Wednesday 28th / Thursday 29th September) before finishing in Kalgoorlie on Friday 30th September.
Spectators can send-off the competitors at the safari show and ceremonial start at Hillarys Boat Harbour today from 4pm. Details of Geraldton and Kalgoorlie spectator points and for the Ceremonial Start are available here.
Cyril plans to do further touring in Kalgoorlie when he completes the outback race, before returning to his home country of France. He says in the future he would like to return to Western Australia to enjoy a holiday with his family.
For information about Australia’s Coral Coast and Australia’s Golden Outback, through which the adventure travels, visit www.westernaustralia.com
