1979 Dakar Rally
Next event 
The route
Host country France
 Algeria
 Niger
 Mali
 Senegal
Results
Cars winnerFrance Alain Génestier
Range Rover
Bikes winnerFrance Cyril Neveu
Yamaha XT500
Trucks winnerFrance Jean-François Dunac
Pinzgauer

1979 Dakar Rally, also known as the 1979 Paris–Alger–Dakar Rally was the first running of the Dakar Rally event. The rally began on 26 December 1978 from Paris, France and finished on 14 January 1979 in Dakar, Senegal, interrupted by a transfer across the Mediterranean. Cyril Neveu won the motorcycle category on a Yamaha, while the car category was won by Alain Génestier in a Range Rover.[1]

Summary

182 competitors (80 cars, 90 motorcycles and 12 trucks [1]) contested the inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally, departing the Place du Trocadéro on Boxing Day 1978 to embark upon a 10,000 kilometre journey to the Senegalese capital of Dakar via Algeria, Niger, Mali and Upper Volta. All the vehicles that took part were classified together, although they would compete separately in subsequent editions of the race.

Cyril Neveu won the rally aboard a Yamaha despite not winning any individual stages, taking the lead on the sixth stage after Patrick Schaal (Yamaha) fell and fractured his little finger.[1] Jean-Claude Morellet, competing under the alias of "Fenouil", had been running second until he was forced to retire as his BMW suffered engine failure with less than 200 km of the rally left to run. That promoted Gilles Comte (Yamaha) to second and Philippe Vassard (Honda), the only competitor to complete the Bamako-Nioro stage in the originally allotted time before it was extended, to third.[1]

Alain Génestier's Range Rover was the best of the cars in fourth, ahead of the Renault 4 of the Marreau brothers. Neveu's brother Christophe had led early on in the rally after winning two of the first three stages in his Range Rover, but got lost on the stage between Arlit and Agadez along with around a quarter of the remaining competitors.[2]

Entry list

Source[3]

Number of entries

Stage Bikes Cars Trucks Total
Start of Rally908012182
End of Rally3437374

Vehicles and Categories

Competitor list

Entry list — Bikes
No. Driver Bike
1France Corinne KoppenhagueSuzuki SP 370
2France Gilles ComteYamaha XT 500
3France Christian RayerYamaha XT 500
4France Rudy PotisekYamaha XT 500
5France Jean-Claude OlivierYamaha XT 500
6France Jean-Claude Morellet aka 'Fenouil'BMW 800 GS
7France Dominique MartinYamaha XT 500
8France Patrick SchaalYamaha XT 500
9France Dominique SauvetreYamaha XT 500
10France Thierry PascaultYamaha XT 500
11France Yves BonYamaha XT 500
12France Cyril NeveuYamaha XT 500
13France Patrick BeaufrontYamaha XT 500
14France Yannick Le GuyaderYamaha XT 500
15France Christian DesnoyerHonda XL 250S
16France Jean-pierre Dos ReisHonda XL 250S
17France Patrice TaravellaHonda XL 250S
18France Pierre MengueYamaha XT 500
19France Grégoire VerhaegheHonda XL 125S
20France Patrick HarmandHonda XL 250S
21France Bernard NeimerHonda XL 250S
22France Bruno DusiHonda XL 250S
23France Philippe VassardHonda XL 250S
24France Jean-louis DespagneYamaha XT 500
25France Bernard MoraYamaha XT 500
26France Henri GabrelleHonda XL 250S
27France Gilles DesheullesHonda XL 250S
28France Max CommençalYamaha XT 500
29France Marie ErtaudYamaha XT 500
30France Michel MontangeHonda XL 250S
31Switzerland Willi SteinerYamaha XT 500
32France Bruno VecchioniHonda XL 250S
33France Alain QuieHonda XL 125S
34France Bernard AtanneHonda XL 250S
35France Olivier KirkpatrickYamaha XT 500
36France Bruno Dubois-TrabucYamaha XT 500
39France Christian PaulHonda XL 250S
40France Jean VanesteYamaha XT 500
41France Martine de CortanzeHonda XL 250S
42France Pascale GeurieHonda XL 250S
43France Christine MartinHonda XL 250S
44France Marie-Dominique CousinYamaha XT 500
45France Pierre DavidMZ 250
46France Jean-Noël CastanetHonda XL 250S
47France Daniel PitonKawasaki KL 250
48France Jacques MicallefYamaha XT 500
49France Luc OffensteinYamaha XT 500
50France Michel PoncetHonda XL 250S
51France Pierre BaninoYamaha XT 500
52France Alain SchaechtHonda XL 250S
53France Pierre SchrickeSuzuki TS125
54France Bernard GautierHonda XL 250S
55France Alain MartinHonda XL 250S
56France Eric MalotYamaha XT 500
57France Thierry RogheHonda XL 250S
58France Eric PopineauHonda XL 250S
59France Michel RazetHonda XL 250S
60France Jean-Pierre TonnellineHonda XL 250S
61France Paul-Eric AllardSuzuki TS125
62France Alain VialSuzuki SP 370
64France Laurent GomisSuzuki SP 370
65France Hubert AuriolYamaha XT 500
66France Philippe JambertBMW R65
67France Jean-François ChanéacHonda XL 250S
68France Didier BoucherYamaha XT 500
69France Alain GaeremynckSuzuki SP 370
70Belgium Alain PadouHonda XL 250S
71France Yannik LengletHonda XL 250S
72France Guy LeconteYamaha XT 500
73France Jacques MaitrotHonda XL 250S
74France Guy AlbaretYamaha XT 500
75France Patrick MezianiYamaha XT 500
76France Pierre BertyYamaha XT 500
77France Jean-pierre PachoudYamaha XT 500
78France Patrice DodinYamaha XT 500
79France Patrick DebuireYamaha XT 500
81France Serge DumolinYamaha XT 500
82France Lionel RousseauYamaha XT 500
83France Bernard RigoniGuzzi TT 500
84France Alain PiatekGuzzi TT 500
85France Alain LegrandGuzzi TT 500
86France Eric BretonGuzzi TT 500
88France Martine RenierGuzzi TT 500
94France Alain BardYamaha XT 500
Entry list — Cars/Trucks
No. Driver Co-driver Co-driver 2/Technician Vehicle
100Monaco Hubert RigalFrance Dominique Rochette-Range Rover V8
101France Maurice CalamelFrance Michel Calamel-Land Rover
102France Bernard HervierFrance Christian Caillon-Range Rover V8
103France Daniel NollanFrance Philippe HayatFrance Jean-Pierre DomblidesRenault KZ
104France Jean-François PiotFrance Pierre RauxFrance Jean-Pierre BoulmeToyota BJ
105France Bernard MaingretFrance Christian Maingret-Mercedes-Benz Unimog
106France Max HuguenyFrance Bernard Trévidic-Toyota Diesel
107France Christian DuboscqFrance Pierre-Emmanuel Froissart-Lada Niva
108France Gérard MairFrance Georges Vanelslande-Ford Transit
109France Stéphan BosteelsFrance Stéphane Bosteels-Citroën GS
110France François ForestierFrance Philippe Meneau-Toyota BJ
111France Pierre DagouryFrance Bertrand Tournier-Lada Niva
112France Claude NeveuFrance Gary CarreraFrance Gilles MauriceToyota BJ
113France Jean-Michel BordaisFrance Marcel Quie-Range Rover V8
114France Philippe LerouxFrance Gilbert Pozzo di Borgo-Toyota BJ
115France Jean-Louis FigureauFrance Jean-Paul Ydraut-Peugeot 504
116France André PiguetFrance Philippe D'AgostinoFrance François JacquinCitroën DS
117France Bernard LemonnierFrance Jacqueline Lemonnier-Toyota Diesel
118France Pierre ChamagneFrance Raymond Thérage-Peugeot 504
119France Philippe TiercinFrance Michel Gadeaud-Citroën CX
120France Christophe NeveuFrance Gilles Gaignault-Range Rover V8
121France Michel DelannoyFrance Frédéric Harrewyn-Toyota Diesel
122Switzerland Enrico PaciUnknown-Jeep Wagoneer
123Belgium Edi-Paul HeinisBelgium Pierre Heinis-Volkswagen 1300
124France François JacquetUnknown-Land Rover
125France Guy ChambilyFrance Michel Desaunay-Toyota BJ
126France Claude RenaultFrance Jacques Cholet-Lada Niva
127France Pierre BouilleFrance Gilles Morel-Renault 5
128France Chantal ComteFrance Christiane van Ryswyck-Volkswagen 181
129France Yves SunhillFrance Jean-Paul Sevin-Buggy Sunhill
130France Pierre-Louis MoreauFrance Jean-Yves Touya-Peugeot 504
131France Claude MarreauFrance Bernard Marreau-Renault 4 Sinpar
132France Pierre MinonzioFrance Jean-Louis Ledentu-Lada Niva
133France Henri MourenFrance Henri Braquet-Toyota BJ
134France Alain VandekerkhoveFrance Daniel PichotFrance Gérard DutertryToyota BJ
135France Dominique FougerouseBelgium Christine BeckersFrance Marguerite OndartsToyota BJ
136France Pierre FougerouseFrance Anne-Marie de Belabre-Toyota BJ
137France Patrick BarbierFrance Jean-Louis DieudeFrance Michel HardyRange Rover V8
138France Gérard SarrazinFrance Lucette Sarrazin-Range Rover V8
139France Philippe CatelFrance Anne Catel-Range Rover V8
140Italy Agostino TocciItaly Carlo Fucci-Fiat Campagnola
141Italy Tommaso CarlettiItaly Amarilli Carletti-Fiat Campagnola
142Italy Franco ArbizziItaly Giovanni Crappolo-Fiat Campagnola
143Italy Cesare GiraudoItaly Antonio CavalleriItaly Mario CavalleriFiat Campagnola
144UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
145UnknownUnknownUnknownFiat Campagnola
146UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
147UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
148France Françoise RayerFrance Chantal Gauche-Lada Niva
149France Jacky LeguyFrance Michel Beaujean-Mercedes-Benz Unimog
150France Jean-Jacques RatetFrance Robert Ignazi-Toyota BJ
151France Jean-Claude LeclercFrance Christian Crye-Toyota BJ
152Belgium Franz DeladriereBelgium Pierre DeghayeBelgium Françoise DeghayeMercedes-Benz Unimog
153Belgium Guy DeladriereFrance Franz Deladriere-Buggy Strakit

Cars

Leading Entries
Manufacturer Team No. Driver Co-Driver/Co-Drivers
United Kingdom Range Rover Range Rover 120 France Christophe Neveu France Gilles Gaignault
156 France Jacky Privé France Reynald Privé
168 France René Metge France Claude Barbier
Japan Toyota Toyota 121 France Michel Delannoy France Frédéric Harrewynn
134 France Alain Vandekerkhove France Daniel Pichot and France Gérard Dutertry
135 France Dominique Fougerrousse France Christine Beckers and France Marguerite Ondarts
136 France Pierre Fougerrousse France Anne-Marie de Belabre
France Renault Renault 131 France Claude Marreau France Bernard Marreau
169 France Georges Houél France Christian Pouchelon

Stages

Stage Date From To Dist. Winner (cars) Winner (bikes)
1 26 December 1978France ParisFrance Montlhéry3.6France C. NeveuFrance C. Desnoyers
27 December 1978France MontlhéryFrance MarseilleLiaison only
28–30 December 1978Transportation to Africa
2 31 December 1978Algeria AlgiersAlgeria RegganeLiaison only
1 January 1979Algeria RegganeAlgeria In Salah270France J. PrivéFrance C. Rayer
2 January 1979Algeria In SalahAlgeria TamanrassetLiaison only
3 3 January 1979Algeria TamanrassetAlgeria In Guezzam373France C. NeveuFrance R. Potisek
4 January 1979Niger AssamakaNiger Arlit230France G. DaurangeonFrance P. Schaal
5 January 1979Niger ArlitNiger Agadez231France P-L. MoreauFrance J-C. Olivier
4 6 January 1979Niger AgadezNiger Niamey230France C. MarreauFrance J-C. Olivier
5 7 January 1979Niger NiameyMali Gao448Stage cancelled
8 January 1979Mali GaoRest day
6 9 January 1979Mali GaoMali Mopti600France A. GénestierFrance G. Comte
10 January 1979Mali MoptiMali BamakoLiaison only
7 11 January 1979Mali BamakoMali Nioro du Sahel417Italy C. GiraudoFrance P. Vassard
8 12 January 1979Mali Nioro du SahelMali Kayes270None declaredFrance C. Rayer
13 January 1979Mali KayesSenegal BakelLiaison only
14 January 1979Senegal BakelSenegal Dakar96Monaco H. RigalFrance G. Comte
  • The above distances (in kilometres) refer only to the competitive timed part of the stage, which make up 3,168 km.

Results

Source[4]

Final standings (positions 1–10)
Pos. No. Competitor(s) Vehicle Class
1 12France Cyril NeveuYamaha XT 500Moto
2 2France Gilles ComteYamaha XT 500Moto
3 23France Philippe VassardHonda XL 250SMoto
4 162France Alain Génestier
France Joseph Terbiaut
France Jean Lemordant
Range Rover V8Auto
5 131France Claude Marreau
France Bernard Marreau
Renault 4 SinparAuto
6 52France Alain SchaechtHonda XL 250SMoto
7 143Italy Cesare Giraudo
Italy Antonio Cavalleri
Italy Mario Cavalleri
Fiat CampagnolaAuto
8 3France Christian RayerYamaha XT 500Moto
9 141Italy Tommaso Carletti
Italy Amarilli Carletti
Fiat CampagnolaAuto
10 134France Alain Vandekerkhove
FranceGérard Dutertry
France Daniel Pichot
Toyota BJAuto

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "History of Dakar - RETROSPECTIVE 1979-2007" (PDF). Dakar. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  2. "Christophe Neveu". dakardantan.com. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  3. "Dakar Historic Book 2024".
  4. "Paris-Dakar 1979 - Classification". dakardantan.com.
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