It has been twelve years since the Dakar Rally was last held in Africa after the 2008 edition was canceled due to terrorism fears. But in the spiritual home of the rally in Dakar, Senegal, people are still holding on to the memories of the rally, hoping for a possible return in the future.

The last time the rally was held on Senegal's soil and in the African continent was way back in 2007 as competitors traversed the rugged desert terrains of North and West Africa.  Terrorism threat forced the cancellation of the 2008 edition, and the event has not been staged in Africa ever since.

But just outside Senegalese capital Dakar, the memories of one of the most enduring sporting spectacles continue to live. People still keep the souvenirs and merchandise from the event, which for years, used to end in the town of Lac Rose, locally known as the Pink Lake.

Walking around the Lake, Dialo Kane Zator, the former president of Senegal Motorsports Federation, informed, “The last stage was Mbor or Kayar, and they came by the beach, they passed behind these houses, and they went around the lake to come by this way. The podium was here. A lot of people were here, but there was no house, nothing. There was nothing here.”

But that has changed over the years. The finishing point of the world-famous rally has been transformed into a popular tourist center, with memories left behind by the rally. There is a new kid on the block. The Africa Eco Race has been the answer to the then canceled Dakar rally in 2008. The event runs from Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania and ends in the town of Lac Rose, the Dakar rally's spiritual home.

Alexey Titov, a driver of the Africa Eco Race, mentioned, “For me being in the Africa race is the real Dakar race, not in South America. But the South America Dakar race is very hard, a lot of participants, but here, it is like a family, here is much better.”

Domenico Cipollone, a rider of Africa Eco Race, stated, “Dakar, the name is Dakar, I mean; the rally should be in Africa.”

According to reports, there have been plans to bring back the Dakar rally to Africa in the future, but many people in Senegal doubt whether the competition will still have the African spirit in it should it return to the streets of Dakar, but in the meantime, they are happy to enjoy the action from the Africa Eco Race, which they say, has filled the void left by the Dakar Rally.