Dakar Rally
ANNUAL LONG-DISTANCE OFF-ROAD ENDURANCE RALLY-RAID — the world's most famous cross-desert rally. Originally PARIS-DAKAR (1979-2007), moved to SOUTH AMERICA (2009-2019), NOW HELD IN SAUDI ARABIA (2020+). Approximately 8000+ km over 12-15 stages in extreme terrain. Signature: 5 CATEGORIES (Cars, Bikes, Trucks, Quads, Side-by-Side (SSV)). Extreme risks; historic fatalities. Icons: STÉPHANE PETERHANSEL (14× overall winner across cars/bikes), CARLOS SAINZ SR. (3× cars), NASSER AL-ATTIYAH (5× cars), MARC COMA (5× bikes).
Quick facts
Category
Motor Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
2–3
Duration
~15000 min
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇫🇷 France
Estimated origin
1979 Paris-Dakar founded by Thierry Sabine; suspended 2008 (security in Africa); relocated Saudi Arabia 2020
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Complete every stage in lowest cumulative time; overall winner in each category.
Rules
Basic rules
STAGE-BASED: 12-15 competitive stages over 2 weeks; each 300-500+ km
Signature multi-day stages.
5 CATEGORIES: Cars (T1+T3), Bikes, Trucks (T5), Quads (Q), SSV (T4/Side-by-Side)
Signature 5 categories.
ROADBOOK NAVIGATION: pre-printed navigation notes (no GPS route in earlier years); requires elite co-driver skills
Signature roadbook system.
MARATHON STAGES: multi-day with restricted maintenance; test endurance + reliability
Signature marathon stages.
DAY START ORDER based on previous day's finish; front-runners open tracks (sand disadvantage)
Signature strategy layer.
MEDICAL + LOGISTICS: satellite tracking, medical helicopters, extensive support crew
Standard safety infrastructure.
Scoring
Lowest cumulative time across all stages wins each category.
Win condition · Lowest cumulative stage time.
Equipment
Category-specific vehicle: motorcycle (450cc), car (T1/T3 buggy), truck (T5), quad (Q), SSV (T4)
Signature 5 vehicle categories
GPS + roadbook navigation (co-driver navigates via handwritten roadbook)
Signature roadbook nav
Extensive safety gear + spare parts + fuel + food carried
Endurance kit
Terminology
- Roadbook
- Handwritten pictorial navigation manual guiding co-driver stage-by-stage.
- Marathon stage
- Multi-day stage with restricted service between days.
- Bivouac
- Nightly encampment where teams service + rest.
- Special
- Competitive timed stage segment.
- Liaison
- Non-timed transit between stages.
- Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO)
- French organizer of Dakar Rally (also Tour de France).
Major competitions
Dakar Rally
annual (January) · Saudi Arabia currently · since 1979
FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC, includes Dakar)
annual · Global · since 2022
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
Founded 1904 · Paris, France
Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO)
Founded 1992 · France
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA, 14× overall Dakar winner — 6 bikes + 8 cars — 'Mr. Dakar')
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT, 5× cars champion)
- Carlos Sainz Sr. (ESP, 3× cars champion)
- Marc Coma (ESP, 5× bikes champion)
- Cyril Despres (FRA, 5× bikes champion)
- Hubert Auriol (FRA, 3× champion; first to win on car + bike)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Dakar Rally— Wikipedia
- Dakar official— ASO Dakar