On 13 March, the Institute of Automotive Engineering has prepared three interesting events in connection with this year's Dakar Rally. A lecture by the racer Aleš Loprais and a demonstration of his racing and support car were intended for all interested persons and the public. Staff and students were then able to get a deeper insight into the technical details and this year's participation of experts from the BUT in a lecture by David Svída.

"The afternoon with Dakar", as the organizers called the event, started at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering on Wednesday 13 March at 1 pm, when two cars from the Dakar Rally were brought to the parking lot on the Faculty's premises: a Lady Praga V4S DKR race car and an accompanying vehicle. Interested visitors could also take a look inside the cars and their questions were answered by the mechanics present.

At the same time, a lecture by David Svída from the Institute of Automotive Engineering, who took part in this year's race with his colleague directly in the team of Aleš Loprais, started. The lecture was intended for students and staff of the faculty, the topic was more about the technique part of the race car than the racing itself. Engineers from the institute have long been working on the development of engines and other components for this demanding rally. The lecture was part of the Automotive Engineering course.

It was the race itself that the audience learned most about from the person most in charge: the afternoon was rounded off by a lecture by the phenomenal racer Aleš Loprais in the Q auditorium. Loprais, together with his teammates, answered questions from the audience, which completely filled the auditorium, and after the event, fans could "catch" the racer's autograph.