RUST Magazine: RUST #50

Chris Evans
fiddle to the Dakar and some of the
events that made up the championship
really weren’t up to standard. It will
mean that the Dakar will finally be a
round of the world championship, as
logically will Castera’s other events,
the Rallye du Maroc and the Andalucia
Rally. Which other two events will
make the cut is difficult to say and it is
possible that some rallies will take a hit
but at least ASO TV rights distribution
knowhow should give the series a major
boost.
Equally important for both the teams
and privateers alike there will be more
standardisation with the road books
and improved safety. Medical cover
and the helicopters that are an essential
part of that umbrella cost big money,
but Castera will make sure that there’s
plenty in place. He was also responsible
for the introduction of riders’ airbags
that we’ll probably all be wearing in
a few years’ time and he has other
ideas to improve safety in the pipeline
including a tricky to implement
150km/h speed limit. While some might
not be thrilled by a single company
running a championship it is what
happens in virtually all other branches
of motorsport and it will give a man for
whom rider safety is a major priority
a much freer hand to implement the
necessary changes.
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