The Dakar: the 5 things you need to know about the most beautiful rally in the world

The Dakar, originally known as Paris Dakar, is certainly the most exciting, hardest and most well-known rally challenge in the world. Next January, for the third consecutive edition, the competition will be hosted by Saudi Arabia. Let's see together the history, curiosity and characteristics of an event that brings with it meanings that go beyond the perimeter of motorsport

Rally Dakar: the history of the toughest race

The Paris-Dakar was conceived by the French driver Thierry Sabine, a French racing driver who in 1976 thought of a race from Paris to the capital of Senegal when he got lost in the desert during the Abidjan-Nice race. The first edition of the Paris-Dakar took place in 1979 and in 1992 the competition even reached the capital of South Africa, Cape Town.

In 2008, the Paris-Dakar did not take place due to dangers linked to the action of terrorist organizations in Mauritania. That year, four French tourists were killed in the country, which was supposed to host eight special stages of the competition.

Since 2009, for the first time, the South American continent has hosted the very famous rally, with the departure from Buenos Aires, the turning point in Valparaíso and the return to the Argentine capital.

The forty-fourth edition of the race, now known as La Dakar, will take place from 2 to 14 January next. For the third consecutive time, the rally will be hosted by Saudi Arabia with departure from Hail, arrival in Jeddah and a rest day in Riyadh.

Let's see together five curiosities or characteristics that tell the story and future prospects of the toughest and most fascinating race in the world.

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1. The Dakar is the most dangerous race in the world

The competition is known as the most exciting and tough due to the numerous special stages, the long and winding course. Therefore, a challenge above all against danger, which seriously tests the courage and skills of the pilots. It is said that at the bivouacs the phrase "to finish first, you must first finish the race" circulates among the participants. Dakar is not only synonymous with epic triumphs and victories, but - unfortunately - also with tragedies and pains. If we also consider the victims among the public, journalists and - in general - professionals, since the first edition 76 people have lost their lives, of which 31 were participating in the competition as pilots. The edition with the most victims was that of 1986, in which five people were killed in a helicopter crash in Mali, including organizer Thierry Sabine.

2. The leading role of women in the rally

German driver Jutta Kleinschimdt was the first (and so far only) woman to win the Paris-Dakar competition in 2001, with a Mitsubishi Pajero. But the participation of women in the race has been important since the first edition in 1979, with seven female riders at the start. The Italian-French driver Camelia Liparoti on board a quad reached the ninth place in 2012. Today, the Spanish Laia Sanz is the most successful and lively driver of the competition, with 9 participations since 2011 and excellent results achieved.

3. Fernando Alonso: from Formula1 to Dakar

The 2020 edition of the Dakar was certainly enhanced by the participation of two-time world champion in Formula 1 Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard completed all 12 stages of the rally, finishing in thirteenth place, despite a spectacular accident, with a double overturn, which significantly limited his performance.

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4. Ari Vetanen, Jean Todt and the mystery of the stolen car in Mali

The Paris Dakar will never be a race like any other. His story does not only contain sporting facts, but real adventures that will remain forever in the identity of this competition. The one that took place in the eleventh edition is a real thriller, with the car of the driver Ari Vetanen stolen during the stop in the stage in Bamako, Mali. The Finnish driver saw his Peugeot 405 T16 “disappear” without leaving any trace, when he was one step away from the finish line, with a huge advantage over everyone. At the time Jean Todt was a young manager of the Renault team and actively participated in the search for the car, which was later found in the countryside of Bamako, but too late to allow Vetanen to continue the competition. 

5. 2030: the sustainable horizon of the Dakar

In recent years, the Dakar has made significant progress in reducing the environmental impact of the race. In 2020, for the first time, the competition was characterized by the creation of a T1-E category, reserved for prototypes of experimental cars with alternative renewable energies. The debut of the first hydrogen vehicle is expected in 2023, while the goal for 2030 is that of a competition without fossil combustion engines. 

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