Dakar Rally (formerly Paris-Dakar Rally) is an annual toughest off-road endurance event, running from 1979 with start in Paris, France to the finish line in Dakar, Senegal, therefore the name Paris-Dakar, where it was held with minor changes until 2007, while the event was cancelled in 2008 due to fears of terrorist attacks in Mauritania. This caused a big change – moving the whole event to South America, with Chile and Argentina offering to host it from 2009 to present. Another cancellation was in truck category in 1989 following the death of a DAF crew member in an accident a year before.

But who was the strongest, toughest and quickest to survive this challenge and win the Dakar Rally?

Let’s look at this nationwide.

First, there are countries with one win: Austria (trucks, 1997), Australia (motorbikes, 2016), South Africa (cars, 2009), Algeria (trucks, 1980) and Sweden (cars, 1980).

In the range of 2-4 wins: Belgium (cars 1983, motorbikes 1984,1985), Qatar (cars, 2012,2015), Japan (cars, 1997, 2002, 2003), Germany (cars, 2001, trucks, 1985 ) and Holland (trucks, 1987, 2007, 2012, 2016).

Between 5 – 9 wins we have: Finland (cars 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990,1991) thanks to rally legends like Ari Vatanen and Juha Kankkunen, Spain (cars 2010, 2014, motorbikes 2004,2006, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015) where Nani Roma won in bike and car categories, with other wins provided by Carlos Sainz and Marc Coma and Czech Republic (trucks 1988, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001).

Next there is Italy, with 6 wins in bike category (1988, 1990, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002) and 4 in truck (1986, 1990, 1992, 1993), totalling to combined 10.

The domination in truck category goes to Russia and their reliable Kamaz with 13 wins, which is almost impossible to beat since year 2000 (Tatra and MAN won once, Iveco 2 times since), with drivers like Vladimir Chagin, nicknamed “The Tsar od Dakar” due to his 7 wins in truck category.

And the last one, the absolute winner, France with a massive margin of 49 wins, 21 in cars category, 22 in motorbikes and 6 in trucks. Here we have to mention bike riders like Cyril Neveu with 5 bike wins, Cyril Despres with also 5, exchanging with Spaniard Marc Coma as the winner for the last 10 editions.

The final man to bring France the glory is of course, Mr. Dakar, Stéphane Peterhansel! With 6 wins in motorbike category and another 6 in cars, he is, with 12 wins, without a doubt the most successful competitor in the history of the Dakar Rally.

What are your predictions for the 2017 edition?

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