In 1986, the Paris Dakar Rally was rocked by a series of serious accidents, and a tragedy which would stun the sport forever when an horrific helicopter accident in Mali killed five, including Dakar Rally founder Thierry Sabine. The tragedy shocked everyone involved in the 1986 event, but it was decided to complete the rally raid in Sabine's honour. So, 22 days after leaving Paris, the surviving cars, motorcycles and trucks rolled into Dakar, bringing an emotional end to the 15,000km adventure.

The 1985 BMW R 80 G/S Paris-Dakar race bike was a specialized, factory-supported competition machine, developed primarily by HPN Motorradtechnik, that notably carried Gaston Rahier to victory in the Paris-Dakar Rally. Unlike the 798cc production R 80 G/S Paris-Dakar, these race bikes featured a highly-tuned 1043cc flat-twin boxer engine producing approximately 75 hp at 7500 rpm. Key modifications included a heavily reinforced steel frame, long-travel, heavy-duty Marzocchi upside-down front forks

Take a look back at some of the most memorable moments in Dakar Rally history, and the vehicles used to race 🏁 | Red Bull Motorsports

Seven women set out in the very first Dakar Rally… 47 years ago at the end of 1978. The Paris-Dakar was the brainchild of Thierry Sabine, who was inspired to start the event after he got lost in the desert while rally racing. The first Paris-Dakar rally began in its namesake Paris, and all seven women riders were French themselves. 182 vehicles left the starting line, 90 of which were motorcycles. After a grueling 6,200 mi (10,000 km) race, only 74 crossed the finish line. Of those 74, 34 were m

Day 11 : one daily video from the first Dakar editions, until Dakar 2026 ends. Flashback: The Legendary 1989 Paris-Dakar! Step back into the golden era of rally raid. The 11th edition of the Paris-Dakar was a 12,000km odyssey through the sands of Tunisia, Libya, and Niger before reaching the iconic Lac Rose. It was a year of pure grit, mechanical mastery, and one of the most famous gambles in racing history. The 1989 podium saw legendary names cement their status as desert masters: * Cars: Ari V