The Dakar Rally, also called the Dakar and formerly the Paris-Dakar Rally, is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. It is an off-road endurance race in which cars, trucks, quads and motorcycles built to run on unpaved ground cross dunes, mud, rocks and desert in timed special stages that can reach 800 to 900 kilometres in a day. The event began in 1978 as a run from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal, kept its name when later editions started or finished elsewhere, was cancelled in 2008 over security threats in Mauritania, was held in South America from 2009 to 2019 and has run in Saudi Arabia since 2020. Amateurs and professionals both enter, and since 2022 it has been part of the World Rally-Raid Championship calendar.
Facts
Founding Year Frequency
Frequency (category) Connections
Competitors Include
Source Chris Blais (Wikipedia)
Source Ricky Brabec (Wikipedia)
Source Saulius Klevinskas (Wikipedia)
Source Volkswagen Motorsport (Wikipedia)
Features
Source Dakar Rally (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Took Place In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject took place.
Source Dakar Rally (Wikipedia)Lead, original startQuote, Lead, original start
The event began in 1978 as a rally from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject took place.
Source Dakar Rally (Wikipedia)Lead, current hostQuote, Lead, current host
Since 2020, the rally has been held in Saudi Arabia.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject took place.
Source Dakar Rally (Wikipedia)Lead, original finishQuote, Lead, original finish
The event began in 1978 as a rally from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal.
Sources
1. Dakar Rally (Wikipedia)
Lead, locations
from 2009 to 2019 the rally was held in South America. Since 2020, the rally has been held in Saudi Arabia.
Lead, frequency
is an annual rally organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO)
Lead, special stages
Most timed competitive segments, known as 'special stages', consist of crossing dunes, mud, camel grass, rocks, and erg.
Lead, start
The event began in 1978 as a rally from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal.
Lead, current host
Since 2020, the rally has been held in Saudi Arabia.
Lead, original finish
The event began in 1978 as a rally from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal.
Lead, original start
The event began in 1978 as a rally from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal.
Features: Motorcycle racing, Lead, vehicles
the vehicles used are purposefully built to perform off-road: cars, trucks, quads and motorcycles
View the SourceChris Blais (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Chris Blais, Lead, Dakar resultsQuote, Competitors Include: Chris Blais, Lead, Dakar results
Blais was the top American Rookie and ninth overall finisher of the 2005 race, fourth overall finisher in 2006, and third overall of the 2007 Dakar Rally riding a KTM 690 Rally motorcycle.
Ricky Brabec (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Ricky Brabec, LeadQuote, Competitors Include: Ricky Brabec, Lead
first American competitor to win the motorcycle division of the Dakar Rally in 2020
Saulius Klevinskas (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Saulius Klevinskas, Motorcycle racer careerQuote, Competitors Include: Saulius Klevinskas, Motorcycle racer career
Klevinskas participated in the 2026 Dakar Rally, finishing in 44th place.
Volkswagen Motorsport (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Volkswagen Motorsport, Lead, Dakar RallyQuote, Competitors Include: Volkswagen Motorsport, Lead, Dakar Rally
Volkswagen competed at the Dakar Rally from 2003 to 2011, claiming three overall wins.
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