Comsol CEO and Founder, Iain Stevenson participating in Dakar Ra

CEO and founder of Convergence Partners’ investee company, Iain Stevenson from Communication Solutions (Comsol) participates in the Dakar Rally in support of the Cipla Miles for Smiles charity and hopes to give many smiles back to kids. For each R5500 that he collects, a child will receive reconstructive facial surgery.

Unfortunately, Iain suffered a fall on stage 8 of the Dakar and had to withdraw from the race.

You can follow Iain’s progress on www.iain-stevenson.com

Underlying article

Another gruelling Dakar Rally, the third in Argentina and Chile, kicked off on Saturday, 1st January with Iain Stevenson attempting the 10 000km event for the first time. On the 1^st of January, Stevenson participated in a major Dakar tradition where competitors pass over the starting podium and then drive through the streets of Buenos Aires lined by thousands of spectators cheering them on.

“What an experience the last three days have been,” said Stevenson. “The Argentines are fanatics. As we drove through the streets they cheered and shouted for everyone that passed through. Of course they go ballistic when they see an Argentinean bike.”

Riding the big 690cc KTM in the silver-and-black colours of Comsol, Stevenson hopes that the extra power and grunt of the big machine will help him to cope in the desert sand and the difficult rocky terrain on the route. The professional bikers are limited to 450cc in an attempt to slow the riding speeds and make the competition more even. The change in rules has opened the field and the line-up of manufacturers is impressive.

Going through the entire scrutineering and display process was quite an experience and Stevenson was very relieved when he was eventually given the go-ahead and approval that he was officially allowed to race. After completing the ceremony, Stevenson had to ride a non-timed (liaison) stage of 377km to the overnight stop.

See attached articles

http://www.iain-stevenson.com/why-am-i-doing-the-dakar/

http://www.supersport.com/motorsport/off-road/news/110102/Nervous_Stevenson_sets_off

http://companies.mybroadband.co.za/blog/2011/01/07/local-isp-ceo-doing-well-in-dakar/