EXTREME DESERT RACING
The vehicles and technology behind the Dakar Rally, the toughest cross-country race in the world
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
The Bahrain Raid Xtreme, which debuted in the 2021 Dakar Rally
© Getty
DID YOU KNOW?
The Dakar Rally originally took place between Paris, France, and Dakar, Senegal
The Dakar Rally is designed for the extreme racer. Facing unpredictable terrain, severe temperatures and fearless speeds, competitors navigate some of the world’s most desolate and challenging deserts in what’s known as a ‘rally raid’. In a range of vehicles, from lightweight motorbikes to sand-pounding mega-trucks, competitors battle it out in a test of physical endurance and unremitting concentration. Competitors need to drive across sand, rock and gravel for thousands of miles as they focus on navigating their sparse surroundings.