The Dakar Rally is regarded as a defining long‑distance rally in international motorsport. Over two weeks, demanding stages lead through dunes, rocky terrain, and stony tracks — far removed from traditional circuit formats. Vehicles and crews cover hundreds of kilometers each day under changing conditions, from high‑speed sections to heavy sand. For editorial teams, brands, agencies, creators, NGOs, and education, the Dakar offers diverse visual motifs and ongoing storylines. This overview situates the history, format, protagonists, technology, and the 2025 edition — with a focus on clear context and narrative structure.
The idea for the Dakar arose in 1977, when motorcyclist Thierry Sabine got lost in the Libyan desert and turned the experience into a plan for a desert rally. In 1979, the first Paris–Dakar began: from Paris to the finish in Dakar, Senegal. 182 vehicles started, 74 reached the finish — an early indicator of the difficulty level. From the early years, the rally became a proving ground for professionals, adventurers, and manufacturers.
IMAGO / piemags / Anefo photo collection. Ne. Participants in the Amsterdam-Paris Dakar Rally Started in Amsterdam at Novotel. Ton van Heuglen and Bakkenist Frits Kiggen. December 29, 1981. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland.
For decades, the route through North and West Africa shaped the rally’s profile. In 2008, the event was canceled for security reasons. From 2009, editions followed in South America (including Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia). Since 2020, the Dakar has taken place in Saudi Arabia — with vast deserts, rocky canyons, and fast tracks. The geographic shift changed the face of the Dakar, while its character as a rally‑raid marathon remained.
IMAGO / ZUMA Press / WireSaudi Arabia: Dania Akeel (SAU) and Stephane Duple (FRA) from Wavers race during stage 11 of Rally Dakar 2024 from from Al Ula to Yambu, Saudi Arabia.
The Dakar is a rally‑raid spanning several thousand kilometers. Each stage combines liaison sections with a timed special stage that can cover several hundred kilometers. In the evening, the bivouac — a mobile paddock with workshops, media center, and medical services — is set up at the stage town. Motorcycles, quads, cars, side‑by‑sides (T3/T4), and trucks are eligible to start; classification is based on the total time across all stages.
IMAGO / Dreamstime / Bivouac, The cars have stopped at the place of bivouac for the night
Unlike circuit racing, the route is not “memorized.” Crews work with a roadbook (symbols, hazard notes, distances, waypoints); GPS functions are regulated. In the car, T3/T4, and truck classes in particular, the co‑driver (navigator) is decisive: navigation errors cost minutes to hours and can shape the overall result.
IMAGO / Depositphotos / Red Optimus 4x2 Buggy prepared for the Dakar Rally
The Dakar is among the more risky motorsport events: heat, dehydration, driving errors, and technical failures are part of daily life. The organizers have raised safety standards — medical helicopters, protective gear (e.g., airbag vests for motorcyclists), and speed zones and limits in sensitive sections. Despite these measures, the rally remains a frontier for people and machines.
IMAGO / Depositphotos / Racer, champion of the Dakar, driver Cyril Despres from Peugeot team stands near his car
“Monsieur Dakar” holds the record with 14 overall victories — six on a motorcycle, eight in a car (including with Mitsubishi, Mini, Peugeot). His career stands for continuity and adaptability to changes in technology and routes.
The 1981 World Rally Champion won Paris–Dakar four times (1987–1991). Vatanen is seen as a bridge between the WRC and rally‑raid — images of the Peugeot 405 T16 are iconic.
On two wheels, Cyril Despres (five wins: 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013) and Marc Coma (five wins: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015) defined a KTM era. Both later moved into leadership and management roles.
The Qatari driver counts among the most successful of recent years with five car titles (including Volkswagen, Mini, Toyota). Parallel to his Dakar career, he is an Olympic bronze medalist in skeet shooting (London 2012).
The two‑time WRC champion won the car category four times — with four brands. His path illustrates the transition of a top WRC driver into the rally‑raid context with longer navigation stages.
The Dakar functions as a test lab for off‑road technology. In the car category, all‑wheel drive systems, long‑travel suspension, reinforced chassis, and locking differentials are refined under extreme conditions. Motorcycles compete as dedicated rally bikes with large fuel capacity, navigation towers, and reinforced frames. Hybrid concepts and efficient powertrains are gaining attention — a field further addressed under “Mission 1000.”
IMAGO / Filippo Carlot / Close-up shot of rugged off-road racing car suspension system in action. Off-Road Race Car Suspension Copyright:
For content teams, the Dakar offers strong visuals (dunes, jumps, dust, bivouac) and human stories (drivers, navigators, mechanics, privateer entrants). The serial structure with daily stages, interim standings, and plot turns suits live blogs, recaps, newsletter series, and Social Media formats such as “Stage of the Day.”
Environmental impact, safety risks, and politically sensitive host regions are discussed regularly. At the same time, the organizer is working on ecological and operational adjustments as well as expanding safety concepts. For the rally‑raid scene, the Dakar remains a key reference point — delivering annual impulses for sport and technology.
The 47th edition took place entirely in Saudi Arabia from January 3 to 17, 2025. The route covered 12 stages from Bisha through the Empty Quarter to Shubaytah — over 7,800 kilometers in total, including a 48‑hour “Chrono” marathon stage with around 950 kilometers of special stage distance.
A notable change in 2025 was the removal of the quad class due to a lack of manufacturer support. At the same time, “Mission 1000” was expanded — a dedicated classification for vehicles with alternative or low‑emission powertrains.
At the prologue in Bisha, 134 motorcycles, 67 cars, 52 Challenger (T3), 51 SSV (T4), and 44 trucks started. In addition, there were 95 vehicles in the Dakar Classic and five prototypes in the Mission‑1000 category (three motorcycles, one SSV, one truck) featuring concepts such as hydrogen, hybrid, and renewable fuels. Mission 1000 serves as a testbed for technologies intended to reduce the CO₂ footprint — without diluting the sporting core.
In the car category, Yazeed Al‑Rajhi with co‑driver Timo Gottschalk won in a Toyota Hilux (Overdrive Racing), becoming the first Saudi overall winner. Long‑time leader Henk Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing) lost time due to tire damage and navigation issues; Mattias Ekström finished third in a Ford prototype. The overall victory by a private team over works teams is noteworthy — a clear signal of the competitiveness of professional customer teams.
On motorcycles, Daniel Sanders captured his first Dakar title on a KTM 450 Rally and became the second Australian overall winner in this category after Toby Price. Early key sections — including the prologue, the opener, and the 48‑hour Chrono — laid the foundation. Tosha Schareina (Honda) finished second ahead of Adrien Van Beveren; defending champion Ricky Brabec placed fifth.
In trucks, Martin Macík (Iveco PowerStar) prevailed, followed by Mitchel van den Brink and Aleš Loprais (both Iveco). The Challenger category (T3) was won by Nicolás Cavigliasso (Taurus prototype) — success following earlier quad titles. In SSV (T4), Brock Heger / Max Eddy won (RZR, Sébastien‑Loeb Racing). The Dakar Classic was dominated by the team around Carlos Santaolalla in a Toyota HDJ 80 — highlighting the storytelling potential of historic vehicles.
The 48‑hour Chrono stage became a decisive selector. Several well‑known names — including Carlos Sainz, Nani Roma, and Cristina Gutiérrez — retired here due to accidents or technical failures. For coverage, this stage provided compelling visuals, shifts in the standings, and sharp contrasts between consistency and risk.
IMAGO / YAY Images / Front view on blue Polaris RZR 800 with it s pilot in Morocco desert near Merzouga. Merzouga is famous for its dunes, the highest in Morocco.
The 2025 edition concentrates developments likely to shape the coming years: local protagonists gain visibility, powertrain concepts diversify, and the narrative increasingly relies on marathon formats and differentiated routes. Those who frame the Dakar as an ongoing development — sporting, technological, and narrative — create sustained relevance in coverage.
The Dakar Rally remains a key event in rally‑raid — with a clear long‑distance narrative, technical evolution, and steady material for journalistic formats. For media and Social Media, it offers continuous touchpoints: daily stages, people, technology, strategy. The 2025 edition also signals the direction of travel: stronger marathon elements, alternative powertrains, and a pronounced competitive scene across main and support classes. Presenting these aspects in a structured, sober manner can engage audiences from motorsport followers to outdoor enthusiasts — with consistent, fact‑based storytelling.
IMAGO works with an international network of partner photographers, agencies, and archives, providing image and video content across Sports, News, Entertainment, Creative, and Archival material. IMAGO has no in‑house photography and does not guarantee exclusivity; instead, it provides clear and flexible licensing models. These include Rights Managed, Royalty Free Classic, and Royalty Free Premium. Each license precisely defines how, where, and for how long content can be used; copyright remains with the respective photographer or agency.
For non‑editorial uses, Model or Property Releases are required where applicable; without these, use is editorial only. IMAGO supports filtering by license category and indicates release status in the metadata only for Creative (stock) images that may be used commercially; Editorial images do not contain release information in their metadata. Access is available via the webshop — either single purchases or credit packages — or through personal consultation with Sales Managers. If a client intends to extend an Editorial image for non‑editorial (commercial) use, the client is responsible for clearing any third‑party rights (e.g., depicted persons, trademarks, properties). “Images are licensed for editorial use; commercial use requires a corresponding license (non‑exclusive).”