Anyone ever flown with the Dakar Rally?

[Sleeping Freight Dog]

While watching the Dakar Rally here in the States, Im amazed
at the footage of how hard the race is on the motos, vehicles etc.
I know that there is a significant aviation contribution as well,
with the helis following the race, to the support aircraft.
Does anyone have any stories about flying the Dakar?
The routings and landscape must be downright brutal on
Turbo-props and the occasional jet parts.
Would love to hear some inside scoop.....

[126,7]

There was footage a few years ago about a Safair Herc whose nosewheel had sunk in some soft sand as it was turning around for line-up at the threshold. They did some digging and then the skipper pushed the throttles forward. Lots of power!!
They do seem to organise the ralley quite well. When they move camp, all the faster planes depart first so as not to create chaos at heir destination, and the slower planes follow. You must remember that there is no ATC and their own organisational skills make ATC obsolete on a continent that hasn't really grasped the idea of ATC yet.
Poor guys in the Casa212's and the Twotters always end up departing and landing last:*
I got to see them when they did the Paris to Cape Town ralley several years ago. I guess about 20, if not more aircraft flew along, not counting the helicopters. They even had DC9s as support aircraft, and it was a bit unusual seeing them land on dirt strips.