A new wave of Covid-19 is affecting the world, including the countries involved in the ALGERIA ECO RACE. This health crisis forces event organizers to adapt constantly.
The ALGERIA ECO RACE, which was to take place from 3 to 11 October 2021, will experience the same fate. With two months to go, preparations should already be in an operational phase involving the actors of the organization as well as the participants. It is reasonably unthinkable to maintain the rally on this date without compromising its quality. The decision has just been made to postpone this new International Off-Road Rally. Jean-Louis SCHLESSER explains this decision, by agreement with his Algerian counterparts, in particular the Algerian Federation of Mechanical Sports:
"Sometimes reason must prevail over passion! When, together with the Algerian Federation of Mechanical Sports, we decided to revive, in Algeria, a great African Off-Road Rally, we did not hesitate for a moment.
It was early in the year, and at that time, with the calendar of vaccination and the global decline of the Covid-19 outbreak, we moved forward with the project, and it all happened very quickly. The recces were organized and a magnificent race with five stages was created.
Numerous meetings with the Federation, the authorities and the different Algerian service providers and partners allowed us to have all the ingredients for an amazing rally and we opened the registrations to the participants who ended up far more than we anticipated!
Unfortunately, this was without the unfortunate epidemic rebound caused by the Delta variant and today, while many countries are affected by this fourth wave, many of them are going back in time by putting in place new strict measures against the epidemic.
In this context, with a very uncertain visibility over the coming weeks, the proximity of the date of the event obliges us to postpone this 1st edition of the ALGERIA ECO RACE to a later date that will be communicated very soon.
This decision is truly heartbreaking for all of us. However, out of respect for all the participants involved and given the health, organizational and financial issues, there is no other possible outcome to date. We will follow the evolution of the situation and continue to prepare the event as best we can.
I must go to Algeria in the coming weeks to meet the various authorities in order to perfect the organization around the postponement of this 1st Edition. The new date will then be validated and communicated directly.
In the meantime, our team remains very active as we are working hard for the AFRICA ECO RACE 2022 which will take place from 12 to 27 March 2022. Especially since a large number of participants on two and four wheels, as well as some renown drivers and crews, have already confirmed their registration. As we look forward to seeing you on the tracks next year, take good care of yourself so that we can all work together to get out of this chaotic situation and experience new sporting adventures on the fabulous African continent."
