Dakar Rally
CategoryRally raid
RegionEurope and Africa (1979–2007)
South America (2009–2019)
Saudi Arabia & Middle East (2020–present)
Inaugural season1979
Drivers' championQatar Nasser Al-Attiyah (Cars)
Argentina Kevin Benavides (Bikes)
Netherlands Janus van Kasteren (Trucks)
France Alexandre Giroud (Quads)
Poland Eryk Goczał (SSV)
United States Austin Jones (Light Prototypes)
Spain Juan Morera (Classics)
Official websiteDakar.com
Current season
The Paris – Dakar route for the 1981 edition.
Thierry Sabine, founder of the Dakar Rally, pictured in 1986.
1981 Dakar competitor Rolls-Royce Corniche.
Countries the rally has been through from 1979 to 2007 (orange countries were only travelled through in the 1992 race to Cape Town). Participants used maritime transport to get from the Republic of the Congo to Angola.
Countries through which the Dakar Rally has been from 2009 to 2018 since it was moved from the previous Paris-Dakar route due to security concerns. Cities included are major start/end points.
Tracks through the Sahara desert in Mauritania.
Cars on display in 1993 in Paris.
A support truck during the 2004 Dakar.
2011 Dakar Rally personal main prize (trucks T4).

The Dakar Rally or simply "The Dakar", formerly known as the "Paris–Dakar Rally", is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. Most events since the inception in 1978 were staged from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal. Security threats in Mauritania led to the cancellation of the 2008 rally, and events from 2009 to 2019 were held in South America.[1][2][3] Since 2020, the rally has been held in Saudi Arabia. The event is open to amateur and professional entries, professionals typically making up about eighty percent of the participants.

The rally is an off-road endurance event. The terrain that the competitors traverse is much tougher than that used in conventional rallying, and the vehicles used are typically true off-road vehicles and motorcycles, rather than modified on-road vehicles. Most of the competitive special sections are off-road, crossing dunes, mud, camel grass, rocks, and erg among others. The distances of each stage covered vary from short distances up to 800–900 kilometres (500–560 mi) per day. The rough terrain and lack of skill usually results in accidents and serious injuries.

History

Crossing the Sahara

The race originated in December 1977, a year after Thierry Sabine got lost in the Ténéré desert whilst competing in the 1975 "Cote-Cote" Abidjan-Nice rally[4] and decided that the desert would be a good location for a regular rally, on the lines of the 1974 London–Sahara–Munich World Cup Rally, the first automobile race to cross the Sahara Desert.[5][6]

In 1971, ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker used the unproven Range Rover to drive from Algeria to Lagos, Nigeria to set up a recording studio and jam with Fela Kuti. Predating the Paris-Dakar Rally the subsequent documentary is replete with such terrain, and documents the vehicle's endurance.[7]

Early growth

182 vehicles took the start of the inaugural rally in Paris, with 74 surviving the 10,000-kilometre (6,200 mi) trip to the Senegalese capital of Dakar. Cyril Neveu was the event's first winner, riding a Yamaha motorcycle. The event rapidly grew in popularity, with 216 vehicles taking the start in 1980 and 291 in 1981.[8] The privateer spirit of early racers tackling the event with limited resources encouraged such entrants as Thierry de Montcorgé in a Rolls-Royce and Formula 1 driver Jacky Ickx with actor Claude Brasseur in a Citroën CX, in the 1981 race won by two-time winner Hubert Auriol.[5]

In 1982, there were 382 racers, more than double the number that took the start in 1979. Neveu won the event for a third time, this time riding a Honda motorcycle, while victory in the car class went to the Marreau brothers, driving a privately entered Renault 20. Auriol captured his second bikes class victory in 1983, the first year that Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi competed in the rally, beginning an association that would last until 2009.

At the behest of 1983 car class winner Jacky Ickx, Porsche entered the Dakar in 1984, with the total number of entries now at 427.[8] The German marque won the event at their first attempt courtesy of René Metge, who had previously won in the car category in 1981, whilst Ickx finished sixth. Gaston Rahier meanwhile continued BMW's success in the motorcycle category with back-to-back wins in 1984 and 1985, the year of Mitsubishi's first victory of 12 in the car category, Patrick Zaniroli taking the spoils. The 1986 event, won by Metge and Neveu, was marred by the death of event founder Sabine in a helicopter crash, his father Gilbert taking over organisation of the rally.

Peugeot and Citroën domination

The 1987 rally marked the start of an era of increased official factory participation in the car category, as French manufacturer Peugeot arrived and won the event with former World Rally champion Ari Vatanen. The 1987 event was also notable for a ferocious head-to-head duel between Neveu and Auriol in the motorcycle category, the former taking his fifth victory after Auriol was forced to drop out of the rally after breaking both ankles in a fall.[8] The 1988 event reached its zenith in terms of entry numbers, with 603 starters. Vatanen's title defence was derailed when his Peugeot was stolen from the service area at Bamako. Though it was later found, Vatanen was subsequently disqualified from the event, victory instead going to compatriot and teammate Juha Kankkunen.[8]

Peugeot and Vatanen returned to winning ways in 1989 and 1990, the latter marking Peugeot's final year of rally competition before switching to the World Sportscar Championship. Sister brand Citroën took Peugeot's place, Vatanen taking a third consecutive victory in 1991. The 1991 event also saw Stéphane Peterhansel take his first title in the motorcycle category with Yamaha, marking the beginning of an era of domination by the Frenchman.

For the 1992 event, the finish line moved to Cape Town, South Africa in a bid to combat a declining number of competitors, where GPS technology was used for the first time.[8] Auriol became the first person to win in multiple classes after taking Mitsubishi's second victory in the car class, while Peterhansel successfully defended his motorcycle category title. The 1993 rally entry list slumped to 153 competitors, around half of the preceding year's figure and around a quarter of that of 1988. The event was the last to be organised by Gilbert Sabine and the Amaury Sport Organisation took over the following year. With the finish line now back in its traditional location of Dakar, Bruno Saby won a third title for Mitsubishi and Peterhansel took a third straight success in the motorcycle category.

The 1994 event returned to Paris after reaching Dakar, resulting in a particularly grueling event. Pierre Lartigue took Citroën's second win in acrimonious circumstances, as Mitsubishi's leading drivers were forced to withdraw from exhaustion after traversing some particularly demanding sand dunes in the Mauritanian desert that the Citroën crews had opted to skip.[9] Peterhansel's did not compete due to a disagreement between Yamaha and the race organizers over the regulations. Edi Orioli claimed a third title in the bikes category.[8] The 1995 and 1996 events begin in the Spanish city of Granada, with Lartigue racking up wins for Citroën in both years. Peterhansel returned to take a fourth bikes category win in 1995, but lost to Orioli in 1996 because of refuelling problems.[8]

Mitsubishi in the ascendancy

The 1997 rally ran exclusively in Africa for the first time, with the route running from Dakar to Agadez, Niger and back to Dakar. Citroën's withdrawal due to a rule change paved the way for Mitsubishi to take a fourth victory. Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka became the first non-European to win the event. Peterhansel equalled Neveu's record of five motorcycle category wins in 1997, before going one better in 1998, when the event returned to its traditional Paris-Dakar route. 1998, Dakar veteran Jean-Pierre Fontenay posted another win for Mitsubishi in the car class.

1999 started in Granada and a maiden success for erstwhile Formula One and sports car driver Jean-Louis Schlesser, who had been constructing his own buggies since 1992. With the help of Renault backing, Schlesser overcame the works Mitsubishi and Nissan crews to win, whilst Peterhansel's decision to switch to the car category allowed Richard Sainct to take BMW's first title in the bikes category since 1985. Schlesser and Sainct both successfully defended their titles in 2000, traversing the route from Dakar to the Egyptian capital of Cairo.

2001 was the final time that the rally used the familiar Paris-Dakar route, and was notable for Mitsubishi's Jutta Kleinschmidt, as she was the first woman to win the rally – albeit only after Schlesser was penalised one hour for unsportsmanlike conduct.[10] Fabrizio Meoni took the first Dakar win for Austrian manufacturer KTM, beginning a winning streak that lasted through 2019. The 2002 began in the French town of Arras and long-time Dakar participant Hiroshi Masuoka won the event for Mitsubishi (Masouka had led for much of the previous year's rally.) The 2003 rally featured an unorthodox route from Marseille to Sharm El Sheikh. Masuoka defend his title after teammate and long-time leader Peterhansel was plagued by mechanical problems in the penultimate stage.[11] Sainct meanwhile took honours in the motorcycle category, the third title for both him and KTM.

Mid-2000s

By 2004, the entry list had increased to 595, up from 358 in 2001, with a record 688 competitors starting in 2005.[8] Alongside Mitsubishi and Nissan, Volkswagen now boasted a full factory effort, while Schlesser's Ford-powered buggies and BMWs of the German X-raid team proved thorns in the side of the big budget works teams. The 2004 route was from Clermont-Ferrand to Dakar, and was the year Peterhansel emulated Hubert Auriol's feat of winning the rally on both two wheels and four. The Frenchman defended his title in 2005, when the rally began for the first time in Barcelona. In the bikes category, KTM continued their success with Nani Roma in 2004, who switched to the car category the following year, and Cyril Despres in 2005.

The 2006 event moved to Lisbon. Nissan pulled out having failed to provide effective opposition to Mitsubishi, who took a sixth consecutive victory, this time with former skiing champion Luc Alphand after Peterhansel committed a series of errors late in the rally.[12] Peterhansel made amends in 2007, however, taking his third title in the car category for Mitsubishi after a close contest with Alphand after the increasingly competitive Volkswagens retired with mechanical problems. In what would be the final African event of the Dakar, Despres took his second title in the bikes category, having conceded victory in 2006 to Marc Coma after suffering an injury.

2008 Dakar Rally cancelled

The 2008 event, due to start in Lisbon, was cancelled on 4 January 2008 amid fears of attacks in Mauritania following the 2007 killing of four French tourists.[13] Chile and Argentina offered to host subsequent events,[14][15] which were later accepted by the ASO for the 2009 event.[16]

The ASO also decided to establish the Dakar Series competition, whose first event was the 2008 Central Europe Rally, held in Hungary and Romania, which acted as a replacement for the cancelled 2008 edition of the Dakar.[13]

South America

The 2009 event, the first held in South America with a respectable 501 competitors, saw Volkswagen take its first win in the Dakar as a works entrant courtesy of Giniel de Villiers. Initially, teammate and former WRC champion Carlos Sainz led the race comfortably until crashing out,[17] but went on to win the event in 2010. After a poor showing in 2009, Mitsubishi withdrew from the competition and left Volkswagen as the sole works entrant. The German marque won the race for a third time in 2011, this time with Nasser Al-Attiyah, before they withdrew to focus on their upcoming WRC entry and leaving the Dakar with no factory participants in the car class. In the bikes, Despres and Coma stretched KTM's incredible unbroken run of success. Both tied on three victories apiece after Coma's third win in 2011.

2018 rally in Peru

In the 2012 rally, the X-raid team came to the fore, now using Minis in lieu of BMWs. Peterhansel had joined the team in 2010 after Mitsubishi's departure, but had been unable to challenge the Volkswagen drivers. Following Volkswagen's withdrawal, Peterhansel was able to secure his fourth win in the car category and his tenth in total, his main opposition coming from within his own team. Peterhansel successfully defended his title in 2013 as the Damen Jefferies buggies of Sainz and Al-Attiyah failed to last the distance. Despres also racked up a further two wins for KTM in the bikes class in 2012 and 2013, bringing his tally to five, aided by Coma's absence due to injury in the latter year. Coma struck back on his return to the Dakar in 2014, taking a comfortable fourth title and a 13th in succession for KTM, whilst Nani Roma emulated Auriol and Peterhansel by taking his maiden title in the cars class a decade on from his victory on two wheels – albeit only after team orders by X-raid slowed down Peterhansel.[18]

Peugeot returned for the 2015 event with an all-new, diesel-powered, two-wheel drive contender, but failed to make an impact as X-raid's Minis once more dominated. Al-Attiyah won the event in his second year for the team, while Coma racked up a fifth title in the bikes after the defection of long-time rival Despres to the car class and Peugeot. Peugeot did however see success in 2016 with Peterhansel behind the wheel, racking up his 6th win in the car category, and again in 2017 and 2018 until Peugeot decide to officially leave the competition. In 2019 Toyota won for the first time with Nasser Al-Attiyah (in his third victory with three different manufacturers). The bike category saw the KTM works team rider, Australian Toby Price, take his first Dakar victory, winning his second title in 2019. Sam Sunderland and Matthias Walkner won the 2017 and 2018 edition also for the team from Mattighofen (18 overall victories as in 2019).

Saudi Arabia

The rally has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020. Since 2022, the rally has been the season-opening round of the World Rally-Raid Championship jointly sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme.[19] The 2023 event ran from 31 December 2022 to 15 January 2023.[20]

Vehicles and classes

The five competitive groups in the Dakar are the motorcycles, quads, the cars class (which ranges from buggies to small SUVs), UTVs, and the trucks class. Many vehicle manufacturers use the rally's harsh environment as both a testing ground and an opportunity to show off their vehicles' durability even though most vehicles are heavily modified from their production specification or purpose-built.

Motorbikes

Rally Dakar 2016

For the 2005 rally regulations introduced a limit of 450cc for twin cylinder motorbikes. Single cylinder motorbikes were still open class with no capacity limit.[21]

As of 2011, the engine displacement limit for all motorbikes competing in the Dakar Rally is 450cc. Engines may be either single or twin cylinder. Riders are divided into two groups, RallyGP and Rally2.[22]

A subcategory is the "Original by Motul" category (formerly named "Malle Moto" due to the only piece of luggage competitors were allowed to take with them was a "malle", a French term for box or trunk.), which refers to motorbikes and quads competing without any kind assistance. The organization provides assistance for this category with 4 people dedicated to the transportation of the competitors "malle" or boxes between bivouac sites plus any additional equipment or belongings. This includes: 1 trunk, 1 set of wheels, 1 sleeping tent, 1 travel bag, 1 set of tyres, free use of the generators, compressors and tool-boxes, and easy access to race information.[23] Since these competitors are not allowed to receive any outside support, each rider must service their own vehicle. It is often called the category for the toughest of the tough, and one for the Dakar purists.[24]

KTM has dominated the motorcycle class in recent years, although Honda, Yamaha, Sherco, Husqvarna, and Gas Gas also compete currently. BMW and Cagiva have also enjoyed success in the past.

Quads

Prior to 2009, Quads were a subdivision of the motorbike category, but they were granted their own separate classification in 2009 and are designated Group 3 in the current regulations. They are divided into two subgroups – Group 3.1, which features two-wheel drive quads with a single cylinder engine with a maximum displacement of 750cc, and Group 3.2, which permits four-wheel drive quads with a maximum engine displacement of 900cc, in either single or twin cylinder layout.[22]

Yamaha are unbeaten in the Quad category since 2009, with their main current opposition coming courtesy of Honda and Can-Am.

Cars

The car class is made up of vehicles weighing less than 3,500 kg (7,716 lb), which are subdivided into several categories. The T1 Group is made up of "Improved Cross-Country Vehicles", subdivided according to engine type (petrol or diesel) and drive type (two-wheel or four-wheel drive). The T2 Group is made up of "Cross-Country Series Production Vehicles", which are subdivided into petrol and diesel categories, while the T3 Group is for "Light Vehicles". There is also an "Open" category catering for vehicles conforming to SCORE regulations.[25]

Mini have been the most successful marque in the car category in recent years, thanks to the efforts of the non-factory X-raid team, with limited involvement currently coming from Toyota, Ford and Haval. Several constructors also produce bespoke buggies for the event, most notably SMG and Damen Jefferies.

Mitsubishi is historically the most successful manufacturer in the car class, with Volkswagen, Citroën, Peugeot and Porsche having all tasted success in the past with factory teams. Jean-Louis Schlesser has also won the event twice with his Renault-supported buggies. Factory teams from Nissan and SEAT have also won stages, as has BMW, courtesy of the X-raid team.

Trucks

Vladimir Chagin, "The Tsar of Dakar", is the most successful truck driver

The Truck class (Group T4), first run as a separate category in 1980, is made up of vehicles weighing more than 3,500 kg (7,716 lb). Trucks participating in the competition are subdivided into "Series Production" trucks (T4.1) and "Modified" trucks (T4.2), whilst Group T4.3 (formerly known as T5) trucks are rally support trucks – meaning they travel from bivouac to bivouac to support the competition vehicles.[25] These were introduced to the rally in 1998. The truck event was not run in 1989 after it was decided the vehicles, by this stage with twin engines generating in excess of 1000 horsepower, were too dangerous following the death of a DAF crew member in an accident during the 1988 rally.[8]

Kamaz has dominated the truck category since the turn of the century, although it has come under increasing pressure from rivals such as Iveco, MAN, Renault, and Tatra, which enjoyed much success in the 1990s. Hino, DAF, Perlini, and Mercedes-Benz have also been among the winners in the past. In the 21st century Kamaz almost always won the truck class, winning fourteen out of eighteen times.

UTVs

The utility task vehicle (UTV) category was introduced in 2017. Before this, UTVs ran under the car category as the T3 class. The class rapidly gained in popularity, and in 2021 the class was further subdivided into separate T3 light prototypes category, and T4 SSVs, which are based on production vehicles.[26]

Classics

A new Dakar Classic class was introduced in 2021 for cars and trucks manufactured before 2000, or new vehicles built to original pre-2000 specification. These vehicles share the same bivouac and the organization but run in a parallel, yet different route, suitable for historic vehicles. The scoreboard is not based on fastest time, but rather on regularity rally point scoring system. The class feature a reduced entry fee, yet the same rules and fees apply for the assistance.[27]

List of winners

Cars, bikes and trucks

Year Route Cars Bikes Trucks
Driver Co-driver Make & model Rider Make & model Driver Co-driver Technician Make & model
2023 near YanbuDammam Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah France Mathieu Baumel Toyota GR DKR Hilux Argentina Kevin Benavides KTM 450 Rally Factory Replica Netherlands Janus van Kasteren Poland Darek Rodewald Netherlands Marcel Snijders Iveco PowerStar
2022 ḤaʼilJeddah Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah France Mathieu Baumel Toyota GR DKR Hilux United Kingdom Sam Sunderland Gas Gas 450 Rally Russia Dmitry Sotnikov Russia Ruslan Amkhmadeev Russia Ilgiz Akhmetzianov Kamaz K5 435091
2021 JeddahḤaʼil France Stéphane Peterhansel France Édouard Boulanger Mini John Cooper Works Buggy Argentina Kevin Benavides Honda CRF 450 Rally Russia Dmitry Sotnikov Russia Ruslan Amkhmadeev Russia Ilgiz Akhmetzianov Kamaz 43509
2020 JeddahRiyadhQiddiya Spain Carlos Sainz Spain Lucas Cruz Mini John Cooper Works Buggy United States Ricky Brabec Honda CRF 450 Rally Russia Andrey Karginov Russia Andrey Mokeev Russia Igor Leonov Kamaz 43509
2019 Lima–Lima Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah France Mathieu Baumel Toyota Hilux Dakar Australia Toby Price KTM 450 Rally Russia Eduard Nikolaev Russia Evgeny Yakovlev Russia Vladimir Rybakov Kamaz 43509
2018 LimaLa PazCórdoba Spain Carlos Sainz Spain Lucas Cruz Peugeot 3008 DKR Maxi Austria Matthias Walkner KTM 450 Rally Russia Eduard Nikolaev Russia Evgeny Yakovlev Russia Vladimir Rybakov Kamaz 4326-9
2017 AsunciónLa PazBuenos Aires France Stéphane Peterhansel France Jean-Paul Cottret Peugeot 3008 DKR United Kingdom Sam Sunderland KTM 450 Rally Russia Eduard Nikolaev Russia Evgeny Yakovlev Russia Vladimir Rybakov Kamaz 4326-9
2016 Buenos AiresSalta-Rosario France Stéphane Peterhansel France Jean-Paul Cottret Peugeot 2008 DKR Australia Toby Price KTM 450 Rally Netherlands Gerard de Rooy Spain Moi Torrallardona Poland Darek Rodewald Iveco PowerStar
2015 Buenos AiresIquique-Buenos Aires Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah France Mathieu Baumel Mini All 4 Racing Spain Marc Coma KTM 450 Rally Russia Ayrat Mardeev Russia Aydar Belyaev Russia Dmitriy Svistunov Kamaz 4326-9
2014 Rosario-SaltaValparaíso Spain Nani Roma France Michel Périn Mini All 4 Racing Spain Marc Coma KTM 450 Rally Russia Andrey Karginov Russia Andrey Mokeev Russia Igor Devyatkin Kamaz 4326-9
2013 LimaTucumánSantiago France Stéphane Peterhansel France Jean-Paul Cottret Mini All 4 Racing France Cyril Despres KTM 450 Rally Russia Eduard Nikolaev Russia Sergey Savostin Russia Vladimir Rybakov Kamaz 4326-9
2012 Mar del PlataAricaLima France Stéphane Peterhansel France Jean-Paul Cottret Mini All 4 Racing France Cyril Despres KTM 450 Rally Netherlands Gerard de Rooy Belgium Tom Colsoul Poland Darek Rodewald Iveco PowerStar
2011 Buenos Aires–Arica–Buenos Aires Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah Germany Timo Gottschalk Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 Spain Marc Coma KTM 450 Rally Russia Vladimir Chagin Russia Sergey Savostin Russia Ildar Shaysultanov Kamaz 4326-9
2010 Buenos AiresAntofagasta–Buenos Aires Spain Carlos Sainz Spain Lucas Cruz Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 France Cyril Despres KTM 690 Rally Russia Vladimir Chagin Russia Sergey Savostin Russia Eduard Nikolaev Kamaz 4326-9
2009 Buenos AiresValparaiso–Buenos Aires South Africa Giniel de Villiers Germany Dirk von Zitzewitz Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 Spain Marc Coma KTM 690 Rally Russia Firdaus Kabirov Russia Aydar Belyaev Russia Andrey Mokeev Kamaz 4326-9
2008 Cancelled
2007 LisbonDakar France Stéphane Peterhansel France Jean-Paul Cottret Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Cyril Despres KTM 690 Rally Netherlands Hans Stacey Belgium Charly Gotlib Netherlands Bernard der Kinderen MAN TGA
2006 Lisbon–Dakar France Luc Alphand France Gilles Picard Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution Spain Marc Coma KTM LC4 660R Russia Vladimir Chagin Russia Semen Yakubov Russia Sergey Savostin Kamaz 4911
2005 Barcelona–Dakar France Stéphane Peterhansel France Jean-Paul Cottret Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Cyril Despres KTM LC4 660R Russia Firdaus Kabirov Russia Aydar Belyaev Russia Andrey Mokeev Kamaz 4911
2004 Clermont-FerrandDakar France Stéphane Peterhansel France Jean-Paul Cottret Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution Spain Nani Roma KTM LC4 660R Russia Vladimir Chagin Russia Semen Yakubov Russia Sergey Savostin Kamaz 4911
2003 MarseilleSharm el Sheikh Japan Hiroshi Masuoka Germany Andreas Schulz Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Richard Sainct KTM LC4 660R Russia Vladimir Chagin Russia Semen Yakubov Russia Sergey Savostin Kamaz 4911
2002 ArrasMadrid–Dakar Japan Hiroshi Masuoka France Pascal Maimon Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution Italy Fabrizio Meoni KTM LC8 950R Russia Vladimir Chagin Russia Semen Yakubov Russia Sergey Savostin Kamaz 49256
2001 Paris–Dakar Germany Jutta Kleinschmidt Germany Andreas Schulz Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution Italy Fabrizio Meoni KTM LC4 660R Czech Republic Karel Loprais Czech Republic Josef Kalina Czech Republic Petr Hamerla Tatra 815
2000 Dakar–Cairo France Jean-Louis Schlesser Andorra Henri Magne Buggy Schlesser France Richard Sainct BMW F650RR Russia Vladimir Chagin Russia Semen Yakubov Russia Sergey Savostin Kamaz 49252
1999 Granada–Dakar France Jean-Louis Schlesser France Philippe Monnet Buggy Schlesser France Richard Sainct BMW F650RR Czech Republic Karel Loprais Czech Republic Radomir Stachura Czech Republic Josef Kalina Tatra 815
1998 Paris–Granada–Dakar France Jean-Pierre Fontenay France Gilles Picard Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Stéphane Peterhansel Yamaha YZE 850T Czech Republic Karel Loprais Czech Republic Radomir Stachura Czech Republic Jan Cermak Tatra 815
1997 Dakar–Agades–Dakar Japan Kenjiro Shinozuka Andorra Henri Magne Mitsubishi Pajero Type 2 France Stéphane Peterhansel Yamaha YZE 850T Austria Peter Reif Austria Johann Deinhofer Hino Ranger
1996 Granada–Dakar France Pierre Lartigue France Michel Périn Citroën ZX Italy Edi Orioli Yamaha YZE 850T Russia Viktor Moskovskikh Russia Anatoli Kouzmine Russia Nail Bagavetdinov Kamaz 49252
1995 Granada–Dakar France Pierre Lartigue France Michel Périn Citroën ZX France Stéphane Peterhansel Yamaha YZE 850T Czech Republic Karel Loprais Czech Republic Radomir Stachura Czech Republic Tomas Tomecek Tatra 815
1994 Paris–Dakar–Paris France Pierre Lartigue France Michel Périn Citroën ZX Italy Edi Orioli Cagiva Elefant Czech Republic Karel Loprais Czech Republic Radomir Stachura Czech Republic Josef Kalina Tatra 815
1993 Paris–Dakar France Bruno Saby France Dominique Serieys Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Stéphane Peterhansel Yamaha YZE 850T Italy Francesco Perlini Italy Giorgio Albiero Italy Claudio Vinante Perlini 105F
1992 Paris–SirteCape Town France Hubert Auriol France Philippe Monnet Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Stéphane Peterhansel Yamaha YZE 850T Italy Francesco Perlini Italy Giorgio Albiero Italy Claudio Vinante Perlini 105F
1991 Paris–Tripoli–Dakar Finland Ari Vatanen Sweden Bruno Berglund Citroën ZX France Stéphane Peterhansel Yamaha YZE 750T France Jacques Houssat France Thierry de Saulieu Italy Danilo Bottaro Perlini 105F
1990 Paris–Tripoli–Dakar Finland Ari Vatanen Sweden Bruno Berglund Peugeot 405 T16 Italy Edi Orioli Cagiva Elefant 900 [it] Italy Giorgio Villa Italy Giorgio Delfino Italy Claudio Vinante Perlini 105F
1989 Paris–Tunis–Dakar Finland Ari Vatanen Sweden Bruno Berglund Peugeot 405 T16 France Gilles Lalay Honda NXR800V Not held
1988 Paris–Alger–Dakar Finland Juha Kankkunen Finland Juha Piironen Peugeot 205 T16 Italy Edi Orioli Honda NXR800V Czechoslovakia Karel Loprais Czech Republic Radomir Stachura Czech Republic Tomas Muck Tatra 815
1987 Paris-Alger–Dakar Finland Ari Vatanen France Bernard Giroux Peugeot 205 T16 France Cyril Neveu Honda NXR750V Netherlands Jan de Rooy Belgium Yvo Geusens Netherlands Theo van de Rijt DAF TurboTwin II
1986 Paris-Alger–Dakar France René Metge France Dominique Lemoyne Porsche 959 France Cyril Neveu Honda NXR750V Italy Giacomo Vismara Italy Giulio Minelli Mercedes-Benz U 1300 L
1985 Paris-Alger–Dakar France Patrick Zaniroli France Jean da Silva Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution Belgium Gaston Rahier BMW R80G/S Germany Karl-Friedrich Capito Germany Jost Capito Germany Klaus Schweikarl Mercedes-Benz 1936 AK
1984 Paris-Alger–Dakar France René Metge France Dominique Lemoyne Porsche 911 (953) Belgium Gaston Rahier BMW R80G/S France Pierre Laleu France Daniel Durce France Patrick Venturini Mercedes-Benz 1936 AK
1983 Paris-Alger–Dakar Belgium Jacky Ickx France Claude Brasseur Mercedes 280 GE France Hubert Auriol BMW R80G/S France Georges Groine France Thierry de Saulieu France Bernard Malferiol Mercedes-Benz 1936 AK
1982 Paris-Alger–Dakar France Claude Marreau France Bernard Marreau Renault 20 Turbo 4X4 France Cyril Neveu Honda XR550 France Georges Groine France Thierry de Saulieu France Bernard Malferiol Mercedes-Benz U 1700 L
1981 Paris–Dakar France René Metge France Bernard Giroux Range Rover France Hubert Auriol BMW R80G/S France Adrien Villette France Henri Gabrelle France Alain Voillereau ALM/ACMAT
1980 Paris–Dakar Sweden Freddy Kottulinsky Germany Gerd Löffelmann Volkswagen Iltis France Cyril Neveu Yamaha XT500 Algeria Miloud Ataouat Algeria Hadj Daou Boukrif Algeria Mahiedine Kaloua Sonacome M210
1979 Paris–Dakar France Alain Génestier France Joseph Terbiaut France Jean Lemordant Range Rover France Cyril Neveu Yamaha XT500 France Jean-François Dunac France Jean-Pierre Chapel France François Beau Pinzgauer

Quads and SSVs

Year Route Quads SSVs (UTVs until 2022)
Rider Make & model Driver Co-driver Make & model
2023 near YanbuDammam France Alexandre Giroud Yamaha Raptor 700 Poland Eryk Goczał Spain Oriol Mena Can-Am Maverick X3
2022 ḤaʼilJeddah France Alexandre Giroud Yamaha Raptor 700 United States Austin Jones Brazil Gustavo Gugelmin Can-Am Maverick X3
2021 JeddahḤaʼil Argentina Manuel Andújar Yamaha Raptor 700 Chile Francisco López Contardo Chile Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre Can-Am Maverick X3
2020 JeddahRiyadhQiddiya Chile Ignacio Casale Yamaha Raptor 700 United States Casey Currie United States Sean Berriman Can-Am Maverick X3
2019 Lima–Lima Argentina Nicolás Cavigliasso Yamaha Raptor 700 Chile Francisco López Contardo Chile Alvaro Quintanilla Can-Am Maverick X3
2018 LimaLa PazCórdoba Chile Ignacio Casale Yamaha Raptor 700 Brazil Reinaldo Varela Brazil Gustavo Gugelmin Can-Am Maverick X3
2017 AsunciónLa PazBuenos Aires Russia Sergey Karyakin Yamaha Raptor 700 Brazil Leandro Torres Brazil Lourival Roldan Polaris RZR 1000 XP
2016 Buenos AiresSalta-Rosario Argentina Marcos Patronelli Yamaha Raptor 700 Not held
2015 Buenos AiresIquique-Buenos Aires Poland Rafał Sonik Yamaha Raptor 700
2014 Rosario-SaltaValparaíso Chile Ignacio Casale Yamaha Raptor 700
2013 LimaTucumánSantiago Argentina Marcos Patronelli Yamaha Raptor 700
2012 Mar del PlataArica–Lima Argentina Alejandro Patronelli Yamaha Raptor 700
2011 Buenos Aires–Arica–Buenos Aires Argentina Alejandro Patronelli Yamaha Raptor 700
2010 Buenos Aires–Antofagasta–Buenos Aires Argentina Marcos Patronelli Yamaha Raptor 700
2009 Buenos Aires–Valparaiso–Buenos Aires Czech Republic Josef Macháček Yamaha Raptor 700

Source:[28]

Light Prototypes and Classics

Year Route Light Prototypes Classics
DriverCo-driver Make & model Driver Co-driver Make & model
2023 near YanbuDammam United States Austin Jones Brazil Gustavo Gugelmin Can-Am Maverick XRS Spain Juan Morera Spain Lidia Ruba Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ80
2022 ḤaʼilJeddah Chile Francisco López Contardo Chile Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre Can-Am XRS France Serge Mogno France Florent Drulhon Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ80
2021 JeddahḤaʼil Czech Republic Josef Macháček Czech Republic Pavel Vyoral Can-Am France Marc Douton France Emilien Etienne Sunhill Buggy

Source:[28]

Podium

Cars

Year 1st 2nd 3rd
DriverCar DriverCar DriverCar
1979 France Alain GénestierRange Rover V8 France Claude MarreauRenault 4 Sinpar Italy Cesare GiraudoFiat Campagnola
1980 Sweden Freddy KottulinskyVolkswagen Iltis France Patrick ZaniroliVolkswagen Iltis France Claude MarreauRenault 4 Sinpar
1981 France René MetgeRange Rover V8 France Hervé CotelBuggy Cotel France Jean-Claude BriavoineLada Niva
1982 France Claude MarreauRenault 20 Turbo France Jean-Claude BriavoineLada Niva France Jean-Pierre JaussaudMercedes 280 GE
1983 Belgium Jacky IckxMercedes 280 GE France André TrossatLada Niva France Pierre LartigueRange Rover V8
1984 France René MetgePorsche 911 France Patrick ZaniroliRange Rover V8 United Kingdom Andrew CowanMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1985 France Patrick ZaniroliMitsubishi Pajero Evolution United Kingdom Andrew CowanMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Pierre FougerouseToyota FJ 60
1986 France René MetgePorsche 959 Belgium Jacky IckxPorsche 959 France Pascal RigalMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1987 Finland Ari VatanenPeugeot 205 Turbo 16 France Patrick ZaniroliRange Rover V8 Japan Kenjiro ShinozukaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1988 Finland Juha KankkunenPeugeot 205 Turbo 16 Japan Kenjiro ShinozukaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Patrick TambayRange Rover V8
1989 Finland Ari VatanenPeugeot 405 Turbo 16 Belgium Jacky IckxPeugeot 405 Turbo 16 France Patrick TambayMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1990 Finland Ari VatanenPeugeot 405 Turbo 16 Sweden Björn WaldegårdPeugeot 405 Turbo 16 France Alain AmbrosinoPeugeot 405 Turbo 16
1991 Finland Ari VatanenCitroën ZX Rallye-Raid France Pierre LartigueMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Jean Pierre FontenayMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1992 France Hubert AuriolMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Germany Erwin WeberMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Japan Kenjiro ShinozukaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1993 France Bruno SabyMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Pierre LartigueCitroën ZX Rallye-Raid France Hubert AuriolCitroën ZX Rallye-Raid
1994 France Pierre LartigueCitroën ZX Rallye-Raid France Hubert AuriolCitroën ZX Rallye-Raid France Philippe WambergueBuggy Bourgo
1995 France Pierre LartigueCitroën ZX Rallye-Raid France Bruno SabyMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Japan Kenjiro ShinozukaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1996 France Pierre LartigueCitroën ZX Rallye-Raid France Philippe WambergueCitroën ZX Rallye-Raid France Jean Pierre FontenayMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1997 Japan Kenjiro ShinozukaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Jean-Pierre FontenayMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Bruno SabyMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1998 France Jean-Pierre FontenayMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Japan Kenjiro ShinozukaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Bruno SabyMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
1999 France Jean-Louis SchlesserBuggy Schlesser Spain Miguel PrietoMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Germany Jutta KleinschmidtMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
2000 France Jean-Louis SchlesserBuggy Schlesser France Stéphane PeterhanselMega Desert France Jean-Pierre FontenayMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
2001 Germany Jutta KleinschmidtMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Japan Hiroshi MasuokaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Jean-Louis SchlesserBuggy Schlesser
2002 Japan Hiroshi MasuokaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Germany Jutta KleinschmidtMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Japan Kenjiro ShinozukaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
2003 Japan Hiroshi MasuokaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Jean-Pierre FontenayMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Stéphane PeterhanselMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
2004 France Stéphane PeterhanselMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Japan Hiroshi MasuokaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Jean-Louis SchlesserBuggy Schlesser
2005 France Stéphane PeterhanselMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Luc AlphandMitsubishi Pajero Evolution Germany Jutta KleinschmidtVolkswagen Race Touareg 2
2006 France Luc AlphandMitsubishi Pajero Evolution South Africa Giniel de VilliersVolkswagen Race Touareg 2 Spain Nani RomaMitsubishi Pajero Evolution
2007 France Stéphane PeterhanselMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Luc AlphandMitsubishi Pajero Evolution France Jean-Louis SchlesserBuggy Schlesser
2008 Cancelled
2009 South Africa Giniel de VilliersVolkswagen Race Touareg 2 United States Mark MillerVolkswagen Race Touareg 2 United States Robby GordonHummer H3
2010 Spain Carlos SainzVolkswagen Race Touareg 2 Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahVolkswagen Race Touareg 2 United States Mark MillerVolkswagen Race Touareg 2
2011 Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahVolkswagen Race Touareg 3 South Africa Giniel de VilliersVolkswagen Race Touareg 3 Spain Carlos SainzVolkswagen Race Touareg 3
2012 France Stéphane PeterhanselMini All4 Racing Spain Nani RomaMini All4 Racing South Africa Giniel de VilliersToyota Hilux Dakar
2013 France Stéphane PeterhanselMini All4 Racing South Africa Giniel de VilliersToyota Hilux Dakar Russia Leonid NovitskiyMini All4 Racing
2014 Spain Nani RomaMini All4 Racing France Stéphane PeterhanselMini All4 Racing Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahMini All4 Racing
2015 Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahMini All4 Racing South Africa Giniel de VilliersToyota Hilux Dakar Poland Krzysztof HołowczycMini All4 Racing
2016 France Stéphane PeterhanselPeugeot 2008 DKR Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahMini All4 Racing South Africa Giniel de VilliersToyota Hilux Dakar
2017 France Stéphane PeterhanselPeugeot 3008 DKR France Sébastien LoebPeugeot 3008 DKR France Cyril DespresPeugeot 3008 DKR
2018 Spain Carlos SainzPeugeot 3008 DKR Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahToyota Hilux Dakar South Africa Giniel de VilliersToyota Hilux Dakar
2019 Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahToyota Hilux Dakar Spain Nani RomaMini All4 Racing France Sébastien LoebPeugeot 3008 DKR
2020 Spain Carlos SainzMini John Cooper Works Buggy Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahToyota Hilux Dakar France Stéphane PeterhanselMini John Cooper Works Buggy
2021 France Stéphane PeterhanselMini John Cooper Works Buggy Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahToyota Hilux Dakar Spain Carlos SainzMini John Cooper Works Buggy
2022 Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahToyota GR DKR Hilux France Sébastien LoebBRX Hunter T1+ Saudi Arabia Yazeed Al-RajhiToyota Hilux Overdrive
2023 Qatar Nasser Al-AttiyahToyota GR DKR Hilux France Sébastien LoebProdrive Hunter T1+ Brazil Lucas MoraesToyota Hilux Overdrive

Bikes

Year 1st 2nd 3rd
DriverBike DriverBike DriverBike
1979 France Cyril NeveuYamaha XT 500 France Gilles ComteYamaha XT 500 France Philippe VassardHonda XL 250
1980 France Cyril NeveuYamaha XT 500 France Michel MerelYamaha XT 500 France Jean-Noël PineauYamaha XT 500
1981 France Hubert AuriolBMW R80 G/S France Serge BacouYamaha XT 500 France Michel MerelYamaha XT 500
1982 France Cyril NeveuHonda XR 550 France Philippe VassardHonda XR 550 France Grégoire VerhaegheBarigo 500
1983 France Hubert AuriolBMW R80 G/S France Patrick DrobecqHonda XR 600 France Marc JoineauSuzuki DR 500
1984 Belgium Gaston RahierBMW R80 G/S France Hubert AuriolBMW R80 G/S France Philippe VassardHonda XLR 600
1985 Belgium Gaston RahierBMW R80 G/S France Jean-Claude OlivierYamaha 660 Proto Italy Franco PiccoYamaha 600 XT
1986 France Cyril NeveuHonda NXR 780 France Gilles LalayHonda NXR 780 Italy Andrea BalestrieriHonda XL 600
1987 France Cyril NeveuHonda NXR 750 Italy Edi OrioliHonda XL 600 Belgium Gaston RahierBMW R80 GS
1988 Italy Edi OrioliHonda NXR 800V Italy Franco PiccoYamaha YZE 750 France Gilles LalayHonda NXR 750
1989 France Gilles LalayHonda NXR 800V Italy Franco PiccoYamaha YZE 750 France Marc MoralesHonda NXR 750
1990 Italy Edi OrioliCagiva Elefant 900 Spain Carles MasYamaha YZE 750 Italy Alessandro De PetriCagiva Elefant 900
1991 France Stéphane PeterhanselYamaha YZE 750T France Gilles LalayYamaha YZE 750T France Thierry MagnaldiYamaha YZE 750T
1992 France Stéphane PeterhanselYamaha YZE 850T United States Danny LaPorteCagiva Elefant 900 Spain Jordi ArcaronsCagiva Elefant 900
1993 France Stéphane PeterhanselYamaha YZE 850T France Thierry CharbonnierYamaha YZE 850T Spain Jordi ArcaronsYamaha YZE 850T
1994 Italy Edi OrioliCagiva Elefant 900 Spain Jordi ArcaronsCagiva Elefant 900 Italy Fabrizio MeoniHonda EXP-2
1995 France Stéphane PeterhanselYamaha YZE 850T Spain Jordi ArcaronsCagiva Elefant 900 Italy Edi OrioliCagiva Elefant 900
1996 Italy Edi OrioliYamaha YZE 850T Spain Jordi ArcaronsKTM LC4 Spain Carlos SoteloKTM LC4
1997 France Stéphane PeterhanselYamaha YZE 850T Spain Oscar GallardoCagiva Elefant 900 France David CasteraYamaha YZE 850T
1998 France Stéphane PeterhanselYamaha YZE 850T Italy Fabrizio MeoniKTM LC4 Australia Andrew HaydonKTM LC4
1999 France Richard SainctBMW F650 RR France Thierry MagnaldiKTM LC4 South Africa Alfie CoxKTM LC4
2000 France Richard SainctBMW F650 RR Spain Oscar GallardoBMW F650 RR United States Jimmy LewisBMW R900 GS
2001 Italy Fabrizio MeoniKTM LC4 660R Spain Jordi ArcaronsKTM LC4 660R Chile Carlo de GavardoKTM LC4 660R
2002 Italy Fabrizio MeoniKTM LC8 950R South Africa Alfie CoxKTM LC4 660R France Richard SainctKTM LC4 660R
2003 France Richard SainctKTM LC4 660R France Cyril DespresKTM LC4 660R Italy Fabrizio MeoniKTM LC8 950R
2004 Spain Nani RomaKTM LC4 660R France Richard SainctKTM LC4 660R France Cyril DespresKTM LC4 660R
2005 France Cyril DespresKTM LC4 660R Spain Marc ComaKTM LC4 660R South Africa Alfie CoxKTM LC4 660R
2006 Spain Marc ComaKTM LC4 660R France Cyril DespresKTM LC4 660R Italy Giovanni SalaKTM LC4 660R
2007 France Cyril DespresKTM 690 Rally France David CasteuKTM 690 Rally United States Chris BlaisKTM 660 Rally
2008 Cancelled
2009 Spain Marc ComaKTM 690 Rally France Cyril DespresKTM 690 Rally France David FrétignéYamaha WR 450
2010 France Cyril DespresKTM 690 Rally Norway Pål Anders UllevålseterKTM 690 Rally Chile Francisco LópezAprilia RXV 450
2011 Spain Marc ComaKTM 450 Rally France Cyril DespresKTM 450 Rally Portugal Hélder RodriguesYamaha WR 450F
2012 France Cyril DespresKTM 450 Rally Spain Marc ComaKTM 450 Rally Portugal Hélder RodriguesYamaha WR 450F
2013 France Cyril DespresKTM 450 Rally Portugal Ruben FariaKTM 450 Rally Chile Francisco LópezKTM 450 Rally
2014 Spain Marc ComaKTM 450 Rally Spain Jordi ViladomsKTM 450 Rally France Olivier PainYamaha WR 450F
2015 Spain Marc ComaKTM 450 Rally Portugal Paulo GonçalvesHonda CRF 450 Australia Toby PriceKTM 450 Rally
2016 Australia Toby PriceKTM 450 Rally Slovakia Štefan SvitkoKTM 450 Rally Chile Pablo QuintanillaHusqvarna FR 450
2017 United Kingdom Sam SunderlandKTM 450 Rally Austria Matthias WalknerKTM 450 Rally Spain Gerard FarrésKTM 450 Rally
2018 Austria Matthias WalknerKTM 450 Rally Argentina Kevin BenavidesHonda CRF 450 Australia Toby PriceKTM 450 Rally
2019 Australia Toby PriceKTM 450 Rally Austria Matthias WalknerKTM 450 Rally United Kingdom Sam SunderlandKTM 450 Rally
2020 United States Ricky BrabecHonda CRF 450 Rally Chile Pablo QuintanillaHusqvarna FR 450 Australia Toby PriceKTM 450 Rally
2021 Argentina Kevin BenavidesHonda CRF 450 Rally United States Ricky BrabecHonda CRF 450 Rally United Kingdom Sam SunderlandKTM 450 Rally
2022 United Kingdom Sam SunderlandGas Gas 450 Rally Chile Pablo QuintanillaHonda CRF450 Rally Austria Matthias WalknerKTM 450 Rally
2023 Argentina Kevin BenavidesKTM 450 Rally Australia Toby PriceKTM 450 Rally United States Skyler HowesHusqvarna 450 Rally

Trucks

Year 1st 2nd 3rd
CrewTruck CrewTruck CrewTruck
1979 France Jean-François Dunac
France Jean-Pierre Chapel
France François Beau
Pinzgauer France Daniel Petit
France Françis Mare
UNIC France Alain Mekki
France Jean Neault
UNIC
1980 Algeria Miloud Ataouat
Algeria Hadj Daou Boukrif
Algeria Mahiedine Kaloua
Sonacome France Bernard Heu
France Daniel Delobel
France Gilbert Versino
MAN Algeria Mokran Bouzid
Algeria Daid
Algeria Mekhelef
Sonacome
1981 France Adrien Villette
France Henri Gabrelle
France Alain Voillereau
ALM-ACMAT France Jacques Briy
France Jean Salou
France Gustave Peu
Ford France Georges Groine
France Thierry de Saulieu
France Bernard Malferiol
Mercedes-Benz
1982 France Georges Groine
France Thierry de Saulieu
France Bernard Malferiol
Mercedes-Benz France Pierre Laleu
France Bernard Langlois
Mercedes-Benz Netherlands Jan de Rooy
Netherlands Gérard Straetmans
DAF
1983 France Georges Groine
France Thierry de Saulieu
France Bernard Malferiol
Mercedes-Benz Sweden Hasse Henriksson
Sweden Sture Bernhardsson
Sweden John Granäng
Volvo C303 Netherlands Jan de Rooy
Netherlands Joop Roggeband
Belgium Yvo Geusens
DAF
1984 France Pierre Laleu
France Daniel Durce
France Patrick Venturini
Mercedes-Benz Italy Paolo Bonera
Italy Valerio Grassi
Italy Paolo Travaglia
Mercedes-Benz France Henri Gabrelle
France Alain Voillereau
Germany Adolf Dirl
MAN
1985 Germany Karl Friedrich Capito
Germany Jost Capito
Germany Klaus Schweikarl
Mercedes-Benz Netherlands Jan de Rooy
France Thierry de Saulieu
Netherlands Martinus Ketelaars
DAF Germany Karl Wilhelm Strohmann
Germany Volker Capito
Germany Heinz Schnepf
Mercedes-Benz
1986 Italy Giacomo Vismara
Italy Giulio Minelli
Mercedes-Benz Germany Hans Heyer
Germany Winkler
MAN Spain Salvador Cañellas
Spain Ferran
Pegaso
1987 Netherlands Jan de Rooy
Belgium Yvo Geusens
Netherlands Theo van de Rijt
DAF Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Radomír Stachura
Czech Republic Jaroslav Krpec
Tatra Czech Republic Jiří Moskal
Czech Republic Jaroslav Joklík
Czech Republic Pavel Záleský
LIAZ
1988 Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Radomír Stachura
Czech Republic Tomáš Mück
Tatra Czech Republic Jiří Moskal
Czech Republic František Vojtíšek
Czech Republic Pavel Záleský
LIAZ Germany Lutz Bernau
Germany Bartman
Germany Kluge
Tatra
1989 Category not held
1990 Italy Giorgio Villa
Italy Giorgio Delfino
Italy Claudio Vinante
Perlini France Jacques Houssat
France Thierry De Saulieu
Italy Danilo Bottaro
Perlini Czech Republic Zdeněk Kahánek
Czech Republic Jaroslav Krpec
Czech Republic Havlík
Tatra
1991 France Jacques Houssat
France Thierry de Saulieu
Italy Danilo Bottaro
Perlini Russia Vladimir Goltsov
Russia Firdaus Kabirov
Russia Valery Koblukov
Kamaz Estonia Joel Tammeka
Estonia Juhan Anupõld
Estonia Enno Piirsalu
Kamaz
1992 Italy Francesco Perlini
Italy Giorgio Albiero
Italy Claudio Vinante
Perlini France Jacques Houssat
France Thierry de Saulieu
Italy Danilo Bottaro
Perlini Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Josef Kalina
Czech Republic Radomír Stachura
Tatra
1993 Italy Francesco Perlini
Italy Giorgio Albiero
Italy Claudio Vinante
Perlini France Jacques Houssat
Sarlieve
Diamante
Perlini France Gilbert Versino
Gimbre
Versino
Mercedes-Benz
1994 Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Radomír Stachura
Czech Republic Josef Kalina
Tatra Japan Yoshimasa Sugawara
Japan Shibata
Hino France Jacques Marvy
France Pons
France Dujon
Perlini
1995 Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Radomír Stachura
Czech Republic Josef Kalina
Tatra Japan Yoshimasa Sugawara
Japan Shibata
Hino Czech Republic Vlastimil Buchtyár
Czech Republic Milan Kořený
Czech Republic Jaroslav Krpec
Tatra
1996 Russia Viktor Moskovskikh
Russia Anatoly Kuzmin
Russia Nail Bagavetdinov
Kamaz Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Tomáš Tomeček
Czech Republic Radomír Stachura
Tatra Czech Republic Ladislav Fajtl
Czech Republic Jiří Janoušek
Czech RepublicFrantišek Wurst
Tatra
1997 Austria Peter Reif
Austria Johann Deinhofer Roth
Hino Japan Yoshimasa Sugawara
Japan Naoko Matsumoto
Japan Katsumi Hamura
Hino Belgium Joseph Petit
France Jean-Christophe Wagner
Japan Takeshi Hashimoto
Hino
1998 Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Radomír Stachura
Czech Republic Jan Čermák
Tatra Japan Yoshimasa Sugawara
Japan Naoko Matsumoto
Japan Takashi Ushioda
Hino Czech Republic Milan Kořený
Czech Republic Jaroslav Lamač
Czech Republic Martin Kahánek
Tatra
1999 Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Radomír Stachura
Czech Republic Josef Kalina
Tatra Russia Viktor Moskovskikh
Russia Vladimir Chagin
Russia Semen Yakubov
Kamaz Brazil André de Azevedo
Czech Republic Tomáš Tomeček
Brazil Leilane Neubarth
Tatra
2000 Russia Vladimir Chagin
Russia Semen Yakubov
Russia Sergey Savostin
Kamaz Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Radomír Stachura
Czech Republic Petr Gilar
Tatra Russia Firdaus Kabirov
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Vladimir Goloub
Kamaz
2001 Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Josef Kalina
Czech Republic Petr Hamerla
Tatra Japan Yoshimasa Sugawara
Japan Seiichi Suzuki
Japan Teruhito Sugawara
Hino Austria Peter Reif
Austria Gunther Pichlbauer
Germany Holger Hermann Roth
MAN
2002 Russia Vladimir Chagin
Russia Semen Yakubov
Russia Sergey Savostin
Kamaz Czech Republic Karel Loprais
Czech Republic Josef Kalina
Czech Republic Petr Hamerla
Tatra Japan Yoshimasa Sugawara
Japan Naoko Matsumoto
Japan Seiichi Suzuki
Hino
2003 Russia Vladimir Chagin
Russia Semen Yakubov
Russia Sergey Savostin
Kamaz Brazil André de Azevedo
Czech Republic Tomáš Tomeček
Czech Republic Jaromír Martinec
Tatra Russia Firdaus Kabirov
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Ilgizar Mardeev
Kamaz
2004 Russia Vladimir Chagin
Russia Semen Yakubov
Russia Sergey Savostin
Kamaz Russia Firdaus Kabirov
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Dzhamil Kamalov
Kamaz Netherlands Gerard de Rooy
Belgium Tom Colsoul
Netherlands Arno Slaats
DAF
2005 Russia Firdaus Kabirov
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Andrey Mokeev
Kamaz Japan Yoshimasa Sugawara
Japan Katsumi Hamura
Hino Italy Giacomo Vismara
Italy Mario Cambiaghi
Italy Claudio Bellina
Mercedes-Benz
2006 Russia Vladimir Chagin
Russia Semen Yakubov
Russia Sergey Savostin
Kamaz Netherlands Hans Stacey
Belgium Charly Gotlib
Netherlands Bernard der Kinderen
MAN Russia Firdaus Kabirov
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Andrey Mokeev
Kamaz
2007 Netherlands Hans Stacey
Belgium Charly Gotlib
Netherlands Bernard der Kinderen
MAN Russia Ilgizar Mardeev
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Kamaz Czech Republic Aleš Loprais
Czech Republic Petr Gilar
Tatra
2008 Cancelled
2009 Russia Firdaus Kabirov
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Andrey Mokeev
Kamaz Russia Vladimir Chagin
Russia Sergey Savostin
Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Kamaz Netherlands Gerard de Rooy
Belgium Tom Colsoul
Netherlands Marcel van Melis
GINAF
2010 Russia Vladimir Chagin
Russia Sergey Savostin
Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Kamaz Russia Firdaus Kabirov
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Andrey Mokeev
Kamaz Netherlands Marcel van Vliet
Netherlands Herman Vaanholt
Netherlands Gerard van Veenendaal
GINAF
2011 Russia Vladimir Chagin
Russia Sergey Savostin
Russia Ildar Shaysultanov
Kamaz Russia Firdaus Kabirov
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Andrey Mokeev
Kamaz Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Russia Viatcheslav Mizyukaev
Russia Vladimir Rybakov
Kamaz
2012 Netherlands Gerard de Rooy
Belgium Tom Colsoul
Poland Dariusz Rodewald
Iveco Netherlands Hans Stacey
Netherlands Hans van Goor
Netherlands Bernard der Kinderen
Iveco Kazakhstan Artur Ardavichus
Russia Alexey Kuzmich
Kazakhstan Nurlan Turlubaev
Kamaz
2013 Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Russia Sergey Savostin
Russia Vladimir Rybakov
Kamaz Russia Airat Mardeev
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Anton Mirniy
Kamaz Russia Andrey Karginov
Russia Andrey Mokeev
Russia Igor Devyatkin
Kamaz
2014 Russia Andrey Karginov
Russia Andrey Mokeev
Russia Igor Devyatkin
Kamaz Netherlands Gerard de Rooy
Belgium Tom Colsoul
Netherlands Darek Rodewald
Iveco Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Russia Sergey Savostin
Russia Vladimir Rybakov
Kamaz
2015 Russia Airat Mardeev
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Dmitriy Svistunov
Kamaz Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Russia Evgeny Yakovlev
Russia Vladimir Rybakov
Kamaz Russia Andrey Karginov
Russia Andrey Mokeev
Russia Igor Leonov
Kamaz
2016 Netherlands Gerard de Rooy
Spain Moisès Torrallardona
Poland Darek Rodewald
Iveco Russia Airat Mardeev
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Dmitriy Svistunov
Kamaz Argentina Federico Villagra
Argentina Jorge Pérez Companc
Argentina Andrés Memi
Iveco
2017 Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Russia Evgeny Yakovlev
Russia Vladimir Rybakov
Kamaz Russia Dmitry Sotnikov
Russia Ruslan Akhmadeev
Russia Igor Leonov
Kamaz Netherlands Gerard de Rooy
Spain Moisès Torrallardona
Poland Darek Rodewald
Iveco
2018 Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Russia Evgeny Yakovlev
Russia Vladimir Rybakov
Kamaz Belarus Siarhei Viazovich
Belarus Pavel Haranin
Belarus Andrei Zhyhulin
MAZ Russia Airat Mardeev
Russia Aydar Belyaev
Russia Dmitriy Svistunov
Kamaz
2019 Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Russia Evgeny Yakovlev
Russia Vladimir Rybakov
Kamaz Russia Dmitry Sotnikov
Russia Dmitry Nikitin
Russia Ilnur Mustafin
Kamaz Netherlands Gerard de Rooy
Spain Moisès Torrallardona
Poland Darek Rodewald
Iveco
2020 Russia Andrey Karginov
Russia Andrey Mokeev
Russia Igor Leonov
Kamaz Russia Anton Shibalov
Russia Dmitry Nikitin
Russia Ivan Tatarinov
Kamaz Belarus Siarhei Viazovich
Belarus Pavel Haranin
Belarus Anton Zaparoshchanka
MAZ
2021 Russia Dmitry Sotnikov
Russia Ruslan Akhamadeev
Russia Ilgiz Akhmetzianov
Kamaz Russia Anton Shibalov
Russia Dmitri Nikitin
Russia Ivan Tatarinov
Kamaz Russia Airat Mardeev
Russia Dmitry Svistunov
Russia Akhmet Galiautdinov
Kamaz
2022 Russia Dmitry Sotnikov
Russia Ruslan Akhamadeev
Russia Ilgiz Akhmetzianov
Kamaz Russia Eduard Nikolaev
Russia Evgeny Yakovlev
Russia Vladimir Rybakov
Kamaz Russia Anton Shibalov
Russia Dmitri Nikitin
Russia Ivan Tatarinov
Kamaz
2023 Netherlands Janus van Kasteren
Poland Darek Rodewald
Netherlands Marcel Snijders
Iveco Czech Republic Martin Macík
Czech Republic František Tomášek
Czech Republic David Švanda
Iveco Netherlands Martin van den Brink
Netherlands Erik Kofman
Netherlands Rijk Mouw
Iveco

Quads

Year 1st 2nd 3rd
RiderQuad RiderQuad RiderQuad
2009 Czech Republic Josef MacháčekYamaha Argentina Marcos PatronelliCan-Am Poland Rafał SonikYamaha
2010 Argentina Marcos PatronelliYamaha Argentina Alejandro PatronelliYamaha Spain Juan Manuel GonzálezYamaha
2011 Argentina Alejandro PatronelliYamaha Argentina Sebastián HalpernYamaha Poland Łukasz ŁaskawiecYamaha
2012 Argentina Alejandro PatronelliYamaha Argentina Marcos PatronelliYamaha Argentina Tomas MaffeiYamaha
2013 Argentina Marcos PatronelliYamaha Chile Ignacio CasaleYamaha Poland Rafał SonikYamaha
2014 Chile Ignacio CasaleYamaha Poland Rafał SonikYamaha Netherlands Sebastian HusseiniHonda
2015 Poland Rafał SonikYamaha Argentina Jeremías GonzálezYamaha Bolivia Walter NosigliaHonda
2016 Argentina Marcos PatronelliYamaha Argentina Alejandro PatronelliYamaha South Africa Brian BaragwanathYamaha
2017 Russia Sergey KaryakinYamaha Chile Ignacio CasaleYamaha Argentina Pablo CopettiYamaha
2018 Chile Ignacio CasaleYamaha Argentina Nicolás CavigliassoYamaha Argentina Jeremías GonzálezYamaha
2019 Argentina Nicolás CavigliassoYamaha Argentina Jeremías GonzálezYamaha Argentina Gustavo GallegoYamaha
2020 Chile Ignacio CasaleYamaha France Simon VitseYamaha Poland Rafał SonikYamaha
2021 Argentina Manuel AndújarYamaha Chile Giovanni EnricoYamaha United States Pablo CopettiYamaha
2022 France Alexandre GiroudYamaha Argentina Francisco MorenoYamaha Poland Kamil WiśniewskiYamaha
2023 France Alexandre GiroudYamaha Argentina Francisco Moreno FloresYamaha United States Pablo CopettiYamaha

SSVs (UTVs until 2022)

Year 1st 2nd 3rd
CrewUTV CrewUTV CrewUTV
2017 Brazil Leandro Torres
Brazil Lourival Roldan
Polaris China Wang Fujiang
China Li Wei
Polaris Russia Ravil Maganov
Russia Kirill Shubin
Polaris
2018 Brazil Reinaldo Varela
Brazil Gustavo Gugelmin
Can-Am France Patrice Garrouste
Switzerland Steven Griener
Polaris France Claude Fournier
Poland Szymon Gospodarczyk
Polaris
2019 Chile Francisco López Contardo
Chile Alvaro Quintanilla
Can-Am Spain Gerard Farrés
Spain Daniel Oliveras
Can-Am Brazil Reinaldo Varela
Brazil Gustavo Gugelmin
Can-Am
2020 United States Casey Currie
United States Sean Berriman
Can-Am Russia Sergey Karyakin
Russia Anton Vlasiuk
Can-Am Chile Francisco López Contardo
Chile Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre
Can-Am
2021 Chile Francisco Lopez Contardo
Chile Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre
Can-Am United States Austin Jones
Brazil Gustavo Gugelmin
Can-Am Poland Aron Domżała
Poland Maciej Marton
Can-Am
2022 United States Austin Jones
Brazil Gustavo Gugelmin
Can-Am Spain Gerard Farrés
Spain Diego Ortega Gil
Can-Am Lithuania Rokas Baciuška
Spain Oriol Mena
Can-Am
2023 Poland Eryk Goczał
Spain Oriol Mena
Can-Am Lithuania Rokas Baciuška
Spain Oriol Vidal Montijano
Can-Am Poland Marek Goczał
Poland Maciej Marton
Can-Am

Light Prototypes

Year 1st 2nd 3rd
CrewMake CrewMake CrewMake
2021 Czech Republic Josef Macháček
Czech Republic Pavel Vyoral
Can-Am Italy Camelia Liparoti
Germany Annett Fischer
Yamaha France Philippe Pinchedez
France Vincent Ferri
Pinch Racing
2022 Chile Francisco Lopez Contardo
Chile Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre
Can-Am Sweden Sebastian Eriksson
Netherlands Wouter Rosegaar
Can-Am Spain Cristina Gutiérrez
France Francois Cazalet
OT3
2023 United States Austin Jones
Brazil Gustavo Gugelmin
Can-Am United States Seth Quintero
Germany Dennis Zenz
Can-Am Belgium Guillaume De Mévius
France François Cazalet
OT3

Classics

Year 1st 2nd 3rd
CrewMake CrewMake CrewMake
2021 France Marc Douton
France Emilien Etienne
Sunhill Buggy Spain Juan Donatiu
Spain Pere Serrat Puig
Mitsubishi Montero France Lilian Harichoury
France Luc Fertin
France Laurent Correia
Renault Trucks
2022 France Serge Mogno
France Florent Drulhon
Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ80 France Arnaud Euvrard
France Adeline Euvrard
Mercedes ML Spain Jesus Fuster Pliego
Spain Juan Carlos Ramirez Moure
Mercedes G-320
2023 Spain Juan Morera
Spain Lidia Ruba
Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ80 Spain Carlos Santaolalla
Spain Aran Sol I Juanola
Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ80 Italy Paolo Bedeschi
Italy Daniele Bottallo
Toyota Land Cruiser BJ71

Records

Television coverage

The rally is broadcast on television in more than 190 countries. A live feed of the event and a roundup of each day's race progress is made into a 26-minute programme.[29] This has been commentated on by Toby Moody for ten years, and more recently by Neil Cole.[30]

The rally organizers and their television crews provide 20 edit stations along the route for various countries to produce their own programmes about the rally. There are four TV helicopters, six stage cameras, and three bivouac crews to make over 1,000 hours of TV over the two-week period.

A 2006 television documentary Race to Dakar described the experiences of a team, including the English actor Charley Boorman, in preparation for and entry into the 2006 Dakar Rally.[31]

Broadcasters

List of TV broadcasters as of 2022[32]
Region Country TV Network
Western Europe  France Franceinfo
France 2 / France 3 / France 4
 Spain Teledeporte
Esport3
La Una
TV3 Catalunya
 Netherlands RTL 4
RTL 7
 Belgium VTM
RTBF
 Austria ORF Sport +
ServusTV
 Italy Sport Mediaset

it:Sport Mediaset

RAI
Sky Sport 24
Italia 1
 Germany ZDF
Eastern Europe  Estonia TV6
 Poland Polsat
TVP1 / TVP2 / TVN
 Czech Republic Nova
Prima
Czech TV
 Lithuania LNK
 Slovakia RTVS
Europe European Union Pan-Europe Eurosport
Middle East N/A Middle East BeIN Sports
 Saudi Arabia SSC sport
Latin America N/A Pan-Latin America ESPN
Americas  USA mav tv
 Canada FloSports
 Argentina Canal 12 (Cordoba)
America TV
TPA
C5N
El Trece
Telefe
 Brazil ESPN
 Colombia Caracol TV
 Mexico Fox Sports
Asia and Oceania N/A Asia and Oceania Eurosport Asia
 Australia SBS
 New Zealand Sky Sport
 China Zhibo.tv
 Japan J Sports
 India 1Sports
Africa  South Africa SABC
eNCA
N/A Africa Supersoft
World N/A World Red Bull TV
Motor Trend
Motorsport.com
France 24
Canal 24 Horas
Al Jazeera

Video games

Release date Title Genre Platform Developer Publisher
1988 Paris-Dakar Rally Special Rally Famicom ISCO CBS/Sony Group
1997 Dakar '97 Rally PlayStation (console) Elcom Co., Ltd. Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Japan), Inc.
2001 Paris-Dakar Rally Rally Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 Broadsword Interactive Acclaim Entertainment
2003 Dakar 2: The World's Ultimate Rally Rally PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube Acclaim Studios Cheltenham Acclaim Entertainment
2018 Dakar 18 Rally Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Bigmoon Entertainment Deep Silver
2022 Dakar Desert Rally[33] Rally Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Saber Interactive Saber Interactive

Incidents

In 1982, Mark Thatcher, son of the then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, along with his French co-driver Anne-Charlotte Verney and their mechanic, disappeared for six days. On 9 January, the trio became separated from a convoy of vehicles after they stopped to make repairs to a faulty steering arm. They were declared missing on 12 January. After a large-scale search was instigated, an Algerian military Lockheed L-100 (a version of the C-130 Hercules) search plane spotted their white Peugeot 504 some 50 kilometres (31 mi) off course. Thatcher, Verney, and the mechanic were all unharmed.

The organiser of the rally, Thierry Sabine, was killed when his Ecureuil helicopter ("Squirrel-copter") crashed at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday 14 January 1986, into a dune at Mali during a sudden sand-storm. Also killed onboard was the singer-songwriter Daniel Balavoine, helicopter pilot François-Xavier Bagnoud, journalist Nathalie Odent, and Jean-Paul Lefur who was a radiophonic engineer for French radio broadcaster RTL (formerly Radio Luxembourg).[34]

Six people were killed during the 1988 race, three participants and three local residents. In one incident, Baye Sibi, a 10-year-old Malian girl, was killed by a racer while she crossed a road. A film crew's vehicle killed a mother and daughter in Mauritania on the last day of the race. The race participants killed, in three separate crashes, were a Dutch navigator on the DAF Trucks team, a French privateer, and a French rider. Racers were also blamed for starting a wildfire that caused a panic on a train running between Dakar and Bamako, where three more people were killed.[35]

In 2003, French driver Daniel Nebot both rolled and crashed his Toyota heavily at high speed killing his co-driver Bruno Cauvy.[36][37]

In 2005, Spanish motorcyclist José Manuel Pérez died in a Spanish hospital on Monday 10 January after crashing the week before on the 7th stage. Italian motorcyclist Fabrizio Meoni, a two-time winner of the event, became the second Dakar Rally rider to die in two days, following Pérez on 11 January on stage 11. Meoni was the 11th motorcyclist and the 45th person overall to die in the history of the race. On 13 January a five-year-old Senegalese girl was hit and killed by a service lorry after wandering onto a main road, bringing the total deaths to five.

In 2006, 41-year-old Australian KTM motorcyclist Andy Caldecott, in his third time in the Dakar, died on 9 January as a result of neck injuries sustained in a crash approximately 250 kilometres (160 mi) into stage 9, between Nouakchott and Kiffa, only a few kilometers (miles) from the location where Meoni had his fatal wreck the year before. He won the third stage of the 2006 event between Nador and Er Rachidia only a few days before his death. The death occurred despite efforts by the event organisers to improve competitor safety, including limiting speed, mandatory rest at fuel stops, and reduced fuel tank capacity for the bike classes. On 13 January a 10-year-old boy died while crossing the course after being hit by a car driven by Latvian Māris Saukāns, while on 14 January a 12-year-old boy was killed after being hit by a support lorry.[38]

In 2007, 29-year-old South African motor racer Elmer Symons died of injuries sustained in a crash during the fourth stage of the Rally. Symons crashed with his bike in the desert between Er Rachidia and Ouarzazate, Morocco.[39] Another death occurred on 20 January, the night before the race's finish, when 42-year-old motorcyclist Eric Aubijoux died suddenly. The cause of death was initially believed to be a heart attack,[40] but it was later suggested that Aubijoux had died of internal injuries sustained in a crash earlier that day while competing in the 14th stage of the race.

The 2008 Dakar Rally was cancelled due to security concerns after al-Qaeda's murder of four French tourists on Christmas Eve in December 2007 in Mauritania (a country in which the rally spent eight days), various accusations against the rally calling it "neo-colonialist", and al-Qaeda's accusations against Mauritania calling it a supporter of "crusaders, apostates and infidels". The French-based Amaury Sport Organisation in charge of the 6,000-kilometre (3,700 mi) rally said in a statement that they had been advised by the French government to cancel the race, which had been due to begin on 5 January 2008 from Lisbon. They said direct threats had also been made against the event by al-Qaeda related organisations.[41][42]

Omar Osama bin Laden, the son of Osama bin Laden, attracted news coverage in 2008 by promoting himself as an "ambassador of peace" and proposing a 3,000-mile (4,800 km) horse race across North Africa as a replacement to the Dakar Rally, with sponsors' money going to support child victims of war, saying "I heard the rally was stopped because of al-Qaida. I don't think they are going to stop me."[43]

On 7 January 2009, the body of 49-year-old motorcyclist Pascal Terry from France was found. He had been missing for three days and his body lay on a remote part of the second stage between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn.

On 4 January 2010, a woman watching the Dakar Rally was killed when a vehicle taking part in the race veered off the course and hit her during the opening stage.

On 1 January 2012, motorcyclist Jorge Martinez Boero of Argentina died after suffering a cardiac arrest after a fall. He was treated by medical staff within five minutes of the accident, but died on the way to hospital.

On 7 January 2015, motorcycle rider Michal Hernik died in unknown circumstances during Stage 3 of the 2015 rally.[44]

On 12 January 2020, Portuguese motorcycle rider Paulo Gonçalves died after suffering a heart attack due to a crash on the seventh stage.[45]

On 15 January 2021, motorcyclist Pierre Cherpin of France died. The 52-year-old Frenchman fell off his motorcycle on 10 January, and a rescue team in a helicopter found him unconscious in the desert. He was rushed to a hospital in Saudi Arabia where he was treated for his injuries. He sustained serious head injuries and cracked ribs, and one of his lungs also collapsed. Cherpin underwent emergency neurosurgery and was placed in an artificial coma. Doctors were initially optimistic about his recovery path and there were no complications after the surgery. He died during the medical transfer from Jeddah to France.

Overall, 76 people, including 31 competitors, have died in the Dakar Rally.

Criticism

When the race was held in Africa, it was subject to criticism from several sources, generally focusing on the race's impact on the inhabitants of the African countries through which it passed. Some African residents along the race's course in previous years have said they saw limited benefits from the race; that race participants spent little money on the goods and services local residents can offer. The racers produced substantial amounts of dust along the course, and were blamed for hitting and killing livestock, in addition to occasionally injuring or killing people.[46]

After the 1988 race, when three Africans were killed in collisions with vehicles involved in the race, PANA, a Dakar-based news agency, wrote that the deaths were "insignificant for the [race's] organisers". The Vatican City newspaper L'Osservatore Romano called the race a "vulgar display of power and wealth in places where men continue to die from hunger and thirst."[47] During a 2002 protest at the race's start in Arras, France, a Green Party of France statement described the race as "colonialism that needs to be eradicated".[48]

The rally was criticised before 2000 for crossing through the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which has been occupied by Morocco since 1975, without the approval of the Polisario Front independence movement, which considers itself the representative of the indigenous Sahrawi people.[49][50] After the race officials gained formal permission from the Polisario from 2000 onwards this ceased to be an issue.[51]

The environmental impact of the race has been another area of criticism. This criticism of the race is the topic of the song "500 connards sur la ligne de départ" ("500 Arseholes at the Starting Line"), on the 1991 album Marchand de cailloux by French singer Renaud. In 2014, the Dakar rally was criticized for damage done to archaeological sites in Chile.[52]

The move to Saudi Arabia for the 2020 Dakar Rally was under heavy criticism because of the situation of human rights in Saudi Arabia and the position of women in that country.[53]

Despite the criticism from human rights organizations against the choice of host country for the 2020 season, the Dakar Rally was organized in Saudi Arabia for another consecutive year. While it was being denounced as an attempt of sportswashing by Saudi Arabia, the organizers defended the decision.[54]

See also

References

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  2. "Dakar in Argentia, Chile and Peru". ASO. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  3. "Dakar stays in South America for 2011". Autosport. 2010-03-23.
  4. Guglielmi, Benoit (1 December 2018). "Four things you probably didn't know about the Abidjan-Nice raid, the ancestor of the Dakar" (in French). Nice Matin.
  5. 1 2 "History". Dakar.com. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
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  7. Ginger Baker in Africa (1971) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80LfQZUxeP0
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  26. "Categories".
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  29. "Media offers". www.dakar.com. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  30. Williamson, Martin (2012-11-07). "Toby Moody – Eurosport's MotoGP Commentator and Huge Cycling Fan". VeloVeritas. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
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