Hubert Auriol

Hubert Auriol , called the African, is a racing driver born the June 7th 1952 with Addis-Abeba (Ethiopia).

After studies in economic scenes, it sells textile in the south-west of France. He discovers then the motor bike Trial, and made competitions starting from 1973.

In 1979, it takes part in its first Rallye Dakar, in the handlebar of a motor bike Yamaha 500 XT, and finishes 12th with general classification and 7th with the classification motor bike.

It will reconsider several times this Rally, which it will gain of motor bike category in 1981 (Paris-Dakar, BMW) and 1983 (Paris-Algiers-Dakar, BMW), then of car category in 1992 (Paris it Cape, Mitsubishi), with the navigator Philippe Monnet as copilot.

In 1987, then controls Cagiva, it is victim of a serious accident.

Auriol delivers fierce combats to the pilot of factory Honda Cyril Neveu, which always keeps the advantage. Finally, it accumulates a certain advance, so that it could have finished the two last stages on its asset. But Auriol does not wish to take any risk and, little before the end of the penultimate stage, it tackles a turn too quickly, leaves the track and strikes a tree violently. It remains probably a long time at this place, because it runs out several hours after the others pilot of factory were able at the park without to have seen it on the way. A wave of panic is spread then in the park of the runners, in particular at Neveu who does not include/understand what it is occurred of his adversary of long time. It does not stop going to the finishing line to ask where is Auriol.

Finally, Auriol arrives while shouting so that one holds the motor bike once stopped to him. One precipitates around his machine to retain it and Nephew, as well as others pilot, help Auriol, seriously wounded, to go down from Cagiva. Auriol is touched with the ankles which present both of the open fractures. The broken bones bored bottoms of its pants, just above the boots

Auriol, which had chosen to take a short cut, was not on the track most attended by the pilots and would have of this fact which been able to die of the continuations of the Hémorragie or the shock, if two private runners had not found it and had helped to go up on its machine which, it, only was slightly damaged. Not being able to pass speeds, it is on the same report/ratio as Auriol, also seriously wounded, joined the stage.

In 1994, it is called with the direction of TSO (Thierry Sabine Organization) by Jean-Claude Killy, then directs the Rallye Dakar during 9 years, of 1995 with 2004.

It is decorated in 1995 with the National order with the Merit.

In 2001, it presents the emission of TV-reality Koh Lanta .

It returns for the edition 2006 of Paris Dakar at the wheel of Pickup diesel Isuzu Dmax, with as copilot the Belgian Jean-Paul Forthomme.

It organizes from February 18th to March 4th, 2006 " The legend of the héros" , a raid of Paris to Dakar with the handlebar of a motor bike Yamaha XT 500, by team of 3 (1 motor bike + 1 vehicle of assistance). The objective of this raid limited to 50 crews is to find the environment of the first rallys Paris Dakar, with a limited budget.

External bonds

Rally Paris-Dakar
the legend of the Heroes

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