Here it is – the run to the finish! After just on 2 weeks the riders are heading back to where it all started in Jeddah on the 2nd January, and to the glory that goes with completing a Dakar Rally. A 105km liaison, 202km special and a final 142km liaison to the Finisher’s Podium.
International off-road racer and Albury resident Andrew Houlihan has finished 21st outright in the gruelling 2020 Africa ECO Race.
The 14 day off-road rally saw riders struggle at times with the demanding terrain, some stranded in the desert for up to 30 hours, and one stage cut short due to multiple serious crashes requiring evacuations by helicopter.
Whilst the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia has captured plenty of attention in recent weeks, 3 Australians, including Andrew Houlihan, have been tackling an equally demanding event in Northern Africa.
When Australian off-road racer Andrew Houlihan rolls up to the start line for Stage 1 of the 2020 Africa ECO Race later today, he’ll be doing it on a new bike with new sponsorship from Coca-Cola Energy.
Andrew revealed the new Coca-Cola Energy KTM 450 Factory Rallye bike and its stunning livery in Monaco this week.
Coca-Cola Energy has partnered with the Nomadas Adventure Rally Team to support Andrew and teammate Juan Pablo Guillen in what will certainly be one of the toughest challenges so far in their off-road racing careers.
As well as competing under the new sponsorship arrangement for the first time, this event is Andrew’s debut on the new KTM 450 Factory Rallye.
While most people are celebrating on New Year’s Eve, Albury based motorcycle racer Andrew Houlihan will be leaving Australia to embark on the toughest challenge so far in his international off-road racing career.
Andrew will be travelling to Europe and then on to Africa to compete in the 2020 Africa ECO Race, a gruelling 6,000 km rally held over 14 days in early January.
He will be competing as part of the Swiss based Nomadas team, and for the first time will be racing on his Coca-Cola Energy KTM 450 Factory Rallye bike.