1979
WHO WILL AUDI FACE?
40 The number of drivers who got lost in a sandstorm in 1983.
Peugeot 405 Turbo 16
VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF THE DAKAR RALLY
1979
The first year the Dakar ran. Back then, it was a 10,000-kilometre epic from the French capital Paris to Dakar in Senegal.
The first year the Dakar ran. Back then, it was a 10,000-kilometre epic from the French capital Paris to Dakar in Senegal.
Although Audi will have only one rival in the T1 Ultimate class (GCK, which runs on biofuels), there are others that will join it in the campaign for the overall win. Prodrive has entered with the Hunter (pictured) and, given the firm’s rally heritage and fifth-place finish last year, must start as one of the favourites. Then there’s Toyota with the GR DKR Hilux T1+, which represents “the biggest technological leap” since the firm returned in 2011. It won in 2019 and features a strong and experienced driver line-up. And last year’s winner, X-Raid’s Mini All4 Racing challenger, returns, but how much the team will miss its two star drivers (Peterhansel and Sainz) remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, though: given the duration of the Dakar Rally, the term ‘favourite’ doesn’t mean much.
The car that front-runner Ari Vatanen was driving when it was stolen in 1988. It was eventually recovered, but too late for the Finn to continue.