A New Beginning

New Year is about new ambitions, new goals, new excitements and attacking it with positive mental attitude so when your sent away from your friends and family in the high of the festive season to a far off land, that sort of energy can be hard to find.

Certainly 12 months ago, when I was sat 400kms away from where I am now I was sad, scared, lonely and afraid, I was embarking on my first Dakar. Looking back I wasn’t very happy throughout the 2 week event and vowed that I would never come back! So why am I now in Mar Del Plata?

Dakar is a drug, it gets to you, ask any of the top riders or drivers who have struggled through hundreds of kilometres of dunes, slept in the desert or, like Dimas Mattos broken his leg on all 4 attempts! Its crazy but we all get drawn back. Dimas told me that each time he vowed never again, the draw to return got bigger and I can relate.

12 month ago, it was desperately hard to leave and this year was even harder, I have been holidaying in Kenya with just the family I treasure so much. It’s a rarity that the 4 of us get to spend more than 24 hours together these days without jobs or girlfriends disturbing our team spirit which made Kenya that bit better but even harder to leave. However, my feeling as I stepped on the first of 5 flights to Mar Del Plata was of excitement and anticipation no worry at all, and even on the Silk Way 6 month before it was not like that!

So what’s to be excited about with Dakar 2012?

 Firstly Mar Del Plata. 400kms South of BA, its on the coast and very much my kind of city, 4 or 5 beach front areas buzz with the sound of Latin beats and the sights of the kind of beach babe Cornwall could only dream of. Sailors struggle with the stiff breeze while Windsurfers and Kite surfers fly into the evening Sky.  It’s a party town, with Sun, sea and a great young vibe, what is not to like.

The race is going to be pretty cool too, last year it was a forgone conclusion that a VW would win while this year it is very open and a true underdog could win the cars. The Monster Mini’s are evidently fragile from previous outings over the year so with Al Attiyah and Gordon in the Hummers perhaps its their chance? What about the old Mitsubishis with Van Loon, Spinelli or Erik Wevers Team? All really do have a genuine chance especially on such a hard and varied route to Lima. Even the trucks could be spectacular without the presence of Chagin or Kabirov. Loprais and De Rooy in their Simpson School busses look good.

Another thing we can all enthuse about is the programme. After all the complaints from me the show has had an overhaul and hopefully you’ll like the change. Gone are the drawn out arty pieces about sand, replaced by retrospectives, features and punchy news stories. Ok on some days we’ll still have to make the show without any idea of the results as the cars will still be stuck in fesh fesh but its definitely a forward step. It will certainly make life very hard for those voicing it blind as there will be stings to avoid and less time for mumbling but for those in Oz, Africa the US or British Middle East you should have a well planned and balanced voice over from myself. Well that’s the plan!

There’s been no great excitements from Scrutineering but a real happy sense of anticipation and apprehension. Mar Del Plata residents are fascinated by the machines rolling up and down the sea front, in fact anything with a sticker on seems to be worthy of a photo, even Depres’ beaten up Winnebago. From my perspective it been a chilled re-climatisation into the South American way of life, munching on endless Steak and Empanadas and enjoying the sights of the largest Seaside resort in Argentina.

***Ben Constanduros is the 2012 Official Voice for the Dakar and can be heard on SBS OZ, SuperSport Africa, Sky NZ, Al Jazzera, Versus USA and online on the SBS website. Follow him @BenConsty for all the latest from South America. Views on here are his own****