Budapest-Bamako

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The official pace car is a refurbished 1988 Lada Niva

Children welcoming the Budapest-Bamako in Mahina, Mali

A 20 year old Toyota 4Runner dashing through the sand

A desparate moment in the Sahara. An Audi S6 gets captured by the soft desert sands.

The Budapest-Bamako or Great African Run is a rally organized by a group of Hungarians. The B2 is a low budget version of the Dakar Rally that goes from Budapest to Bamako through the Sahara. It passes through Hungary, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania and Mali. The Budapest-Bamako was inspired by the Paris Dakar Rally. It promises a sense of adventure and the romance of Africa, much like the Paris-Dakar did in its early days. There are no entry restrictions. As long as a vehicle is street legal, it can join the event. The B2 also raises money for local charities in Mali.

1 History
2 Philosophy and rules
3 Route
4 Charity
5 External links

[edit] History

The event is the brainchild of Hungarian internet enrepreneur and former radio "shock jock" Géza Villám, who wanted to give rally fans an option to the more expensive and stricter Dakar rally. He found no cheaper and more comfortable alternative to the Dakar so he created his own. After first envisioning a direct drive through the Sahara in Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali he opted for a safer and more scenic route around the Western rim of Africa. On 26 December 2005 forty-two teams lined up in Budapest's Heroes square for the inagural run of the Budapest-Bamako. Two weeks later all but two teams arrived in Bamako's Place des Heros. In 2007 over 100 teams entered the race.

[edit] Philosophy and rules

The guiding principle of the Budapest-Bamako is: Anyone, By Anything, In Any Way. There are no restrictions on the vehicles or individuals that can enter. There are no road restrictions either. Participants have to complete daily stages between Budapest and Bamako. There are no set routes. Racers can plan and optimize their own route. It is not a timed event. Points are awarded for completing daily stages in certain time periods. In addition there are geocaching challenges along the way for additional points. If a team doesn't complete a stage they are still in the race. Cars don't have to arrive at the finish line, just participants.

[edit] Route

The race goes from Budapest through Austria or Croatia, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania to Mali. Nearly 8000 kilometers are covered within 14 days. The race ends in the capital of Mali, Bamako.

[edit] Charity

Each year the Budapest-Bamako has a charity goal. In 2005 money was raised for a Bamako orphanage. In 2007 participants have adopted villages on route and deliver supplies to that community. The team that performs the most outstanding charity work receives the Mother Teresa Charity Award.