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Orlin Alexiev to take part in the next Dakar Rally
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He plans for a comeback in 2023, his co-pilot will be Todor Hristov
GERB’s former municipal councilor Orlin Alexiev is planning to enroll in the upcoming Dakar Rally for the third time in his life. He is hoping to make a huge comeback with a brand new vehicle – the UTV Can-Am Maverick Х3 1000. The rally is expected to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2023.
The Dakar, or the Dakar Rally, is an off-road endurance event assembled by the Amaury Sport Organization that is open to both amateurs and professionals. An interesting fact is that approximately 80 percent of rally participants are amateurs.
Orlin Alexiev made his Dakar debut back in 2013 when the automobile rally race took place in South Africa. Powering through the terrains with his ВМW Х1 Рrоtо, he finished 61st in the general car ranking and 17th in his class – so far the best ranking Bulgaria has achieved in this competition. Plamen Nikolov was his co-pilot at the time and both teamed up in 2014.
Co-pilots are in charge of navigation to the destination. They are tasked with the responsibility to read the map, operate the GPS, use Google Maps, and watch for exits. Excellent navigation is everything. Unfortunately, the crew could not make the finals due to technical difficulties.
It was in 2014 during Alexiev’s second Dakar enrollment when the so-called “cocaine affair” raged the rally world for weeks. More than a ton and a half of cocaine was found in a service truck after the race. Some media immediately tied the incident to Alexiev’s assistant car.
Later on, his car dealership was searched. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes – at the time outgoing French Ambassador – announced that 1,400kg of pure cocaine had been seized in a Chilean port on a ship headed to France. It had been hidden inside spare tires loaded on trucks. The vehicles participating in the Dakar Rally had been used as a disguise. The then Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior Svetlozar Lazarov said that some Bulgarians holding important positions in government had been involved in the trafficking.