From April 20 to 26, 2008, the best cross-country rally racers in the world will gather in Hungary and Romania for the Central Europe Rally.  After the cancellation of the Dakar Rally in January, this is their first opportunity to compete at the top level, and is the first event of the new Dakar Series.

Rally Pan Am, backed by Top Oil and with rider Jonah Street, will make the trek from the western United States all the way to central Europe for this major event. Like most rally racers, the team was very disappointed at not racing in Africa this year, and is itching to enter the fray. "I'm really looking forward to finally racing again" says Street.

Niles Follin, Jonah's lead mechanic, adds, "We are not very familiar with this event or terrain, but we have a talented rider, excellent equipment, and an experienced team, all of which makes us ready to compete anywhere, anytime."

The Central Europe Rally is a new event set on the fast sandy roads of Hungary and in the mountains of Romania. As part of the Dakar Series, it will attract competitors who are used to the vast expanses of the Sahara. Jonah Street will ride the Rally Pan Am KTM 690 originally prepared for the Dakar Rally, with some adjustments for the different terrain of this new event.

In January, 2009, the Dakar Series moves to South America with another new event in Chile and Argentina.