The Fiat Panda's Dakar Rally adventure beings today as the two tiny cars, in the hands of Miki Biasion and Bruno Saby, tackle the first stage, from Lisbon to Portimão, with 117km being timed, and a whole day distance of 464 km.

The two Fiat Panda Cross-based machines are both ready for this most gruelling of marathon events this morning, with arriving in Dakar at the end of the rally, intact, being the target. Alongside former double world rally champion Miki Biasion, is the winner of the Dakar car competition in 1993, Bruno Saby, and he admitted on Thursday that he will be present this year with limited sporting ambitions, although his enthusiasm for the adventure remains fully intact: "Taking part in the Dakar with a Fiat Panda is a completely new challenge, but one that is true to the spirit of the first Dakar rallies," said Saby during scrutineering. "I am going to use my experience in hoping to encourage a major brand to continue its involvement in this race." Saby, who has only had two weeks of training in the Tunisian desert at the beginning of December with his new vehicle, says he hopes to go, "as far as possible."

With scrutineering and technical checks taking place during Wednesday and Thursday, today's opening special stage is taking all the motorbikes, cars and trucks which have entered the rally this year from Lisbon to Portimão, a distance of 464 km. This is made up of a connection of 115 km, a special stage of 117 km and a final connection of 232 km. Today's stage, and here comes the first surprise as this is still only Europe: the competitors are already seeing sand, and without even going to the beach.
 

The start of the special stage promises a few not too serious mishaps, just a foretaste of what to expect in Africa in a couple of days. Then, as the stage progresses the technically adept drivers will be free to snatch back a few seconds round the bends through the forests of pines and corks.

Tomorrow the two Fiat Pandas and all the other crews will travel from Portimão to Málaga, a distance of 545 km. This will be made up of a 15 km connection to the second special stage which will be 67 km in duration, and finally a long, tiring 463 km drive to Málaga. Tomorrow's terrain could easily lend itself to trekking or a heat of the world mountain-bike championships: as it is welcome to the mountains for the competitiors. The course is tortuous, the ground quite hard. Drivers will prudently slow the pace, especially if the course is wet. One false move on this “WRC type” route, and the drop can be a severe one and so it is always safer to err on the slower side. After the long drive to Málaga, tired bodies will be able to benefit from the night crossing. On entering the African continent, the rally will become a long-distance trek. All the many ingredients that go to make the Dakar so difficult are there, and in respectable quantities already. The two Fiat Pandas and their support team have a long, hard adventure in front of them.