Getting started in racing generally takes a small fortune. That’s why you’re lucky that BFGoodrich is stepping up, offering to pay for a set of tires and registration fees for one fortunate rookie racer in the 2019 Dakar.
The Dakar Rally is notoriously brutal on both man and machine, known for breaking racers and their rigs, sometimes at the same moment. Even seasoned pros can be beaten by the notoriously difficult course, so rookies definitely need all the help they can get.
Enter BFGoodrich and their Good Project program. Until June 30, racers from around the world can apply for a chance to race in the 2019 Dakar Rally. Should they be selected, the tire company will foot the bill for a set of tires and entry fees for the driver, co-driver, and their car. The winner will have to fly the BFGoodrich flag during the competition, of course.
Before you head to the website and try to win the prize, there are a few stipulations. To be eligible to win the Good Project, racers must:
- Never have competed in the Dakar Rally
- Have raced in at least one FIA semi-professional or professional event
- Have the financial and technical resources to transport a race vehicle to the rally
- Make a one-minute video demonstrating their motivation to race
“The Dakar is a legendary and unique off-road event and BFGoodrich is proud to share in its history,” said Harold Phillips, global general manager of the brand. “This program makes it possible for amateur competitors to have a shot at the Dakar Rally using the same critical equipment that pros bring to the race — an extraordinary set of BFGoodrich off-road tires.”
It’s definitely more involved than a filling out a simple entry form, then. After the closing date, a BFGoodrich selection committee will choose an amateur team after reviewing all the videos submitted. Winning teams must agree to share the values of BFGoodrich, post their journey on social media channels, and – obviously – race only on BFGoodrich tires in the Dakar Rally.
BFGoodrich has had 14 first-place finishes at the Dakar Rally between 1993 and 2018. The brand has provided support for its racers on the notoriously difficult course, even going so far as to develop bespoke tires specifically for the race. The company has long used off-road races as a real-world laboratory for tire development.
Dakar is no longer held in Dakar, despite retaining the name. Most events since its inception in 1978 ran a race from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal. Security threats scuppered the 2008 soirée, and all races from 2009 onwards have been held in South America. The number of entrants has waxed and waned over the years, with the high watermark coming in 2005 with 688 competitors in the event.
Interested? Or know a rookie racer who wants to tackle Dakar and meets the criteria listed above? Check out the contest website, then grab a camera and start recording!