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Documentary captures drama of the Dakar Rally

The Inmarsat-sponsored Race2Recovery team of injured ex-servicemen feature in a documentary about their exploits in the 2014 Dakar Rally on satellite TV channel British Eurosport this Saturday.

The 30-minute film, Dakar Rally 2014: Race2Recovery, follows their successful return to the world’s toughest off-road challenge after becoming the first amputee team to complete the course the previous year.

Documentary director Alistair Weaver shadowed the team as they raced through challenging terrain in South America, using BGAN HDR – Inmarsat’s new high data rate streaming service – to transmit high-quality video back to British production company Gaucho Productions

Ultra portable

“We need to be able to file copy and video from anywhere at a moment’s notice,” Alistair said during the rally.

BGAN terminals are ultra-portable and extremely quick to set up, making them the perfect tool for the task.”

The production team had an IsatPhone Pro satellite phone too, which they used daily to relay reports and keep up with the team.

Support crews

Inmarsat also supplied the Race2Recovery team with BGAN terminals and IsatPhone Pro satellite phones so they could stay in touch by video link with support crews back at base in the UK, post updates on the charity’s website, Facebook and Twitter, and seek help in emergencies.

Corporal Daniel ‘Baz’ Whittingham was part of the support crew last year but made his competition debut this January in the team’s race truck.

Baz lost his left leg in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Afghanistan in 2009. “It’s been an incredible journey from the battlefield to the Dakar,” he said during the event.

“I was told I’d never walk again but here I am taking part in the world’s toughest rally. Just being part of Race2Recovery has helped all of us in our rehabilitation and we hope that we’ve demonstrated to others that with teamwork and determination, you can overcome almost anything.”

Dakar Rally 2014: Race2Recovery is on British Eurosport at 19:30 on 3 May.