Blazing a trail through the challenges of its time is one of the signature traits of the Dakar, as exemplified by Daniel Balavoine and Thierry Sabine in 1985, when they launched the initiative Paris-Dakar, pari du cœur. The Dakar has stood out as a technological powerhouse from the very beginning, evolving into a true open-air laboratory where the solutions of tomorrow jump from paper to reality and have to prove their worth. Its extreme conditions have turned it into a test bed for new engines, cutting-edge safety features and experiments with the potential to transform rally raids forever. Driven by this pioneering spirit, the Dakar Future programme has promoted the development of hybrid engines, as illustrated by Carlos Sainz placing his Audi RS Q e-tron on the top step of the podium in 2024. Nearly half of the current FIA field is already experimenting with emission reduction technologies, and new avenues are opening up for exploration with the Mission 1000 project.
This flair for innovation feeds naturally into the human commitment of the Dakar. The adventure first lent its support to local initiatives in Africa, such as supplying water pumps and digging wells, before teaming up with SOS Sahel. In South America, it backed the non-profit Techo in its fight against poverty and substandard housing. More recently, in the Middle East, the Dakar has stepped up its solidarity efforts alongside Help Center, a non-profit dedicated to supporting children with physical and mental disabilities, as well as inspiring a new generation of racers through the Saudi Next Gen programme.
A sense of adventure
MISSION 1000
The Dakar Future programme, introduced in 2021, aims to promote the use of alternative power sources in the rally. Its targeted measures have delivered tangible results, particularly when it comes to biofuels, which are now in the tanks of most Ultimate teams, from The Dacia Sandriders and Ford M-Sport to X-Raid and Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe. These choices have paid instant dividends, as biofuels have slashed carbon emissions by nearly 70%. In a similar vein, the Dakar launched Mission 1000 to put cutting-edge technologies through their paces in the extreme conditions of the Saudi desert. New, ambitious projects are signing up for this open-air laboratory every year.
SAUDI NEXT GEN
The Saudi Next Gen initiative plunges its participants into the world of the Dakar for five incredible days, mentored by experts who know the race inside out, to scout out future Saudi motor sports champions and help them to unlock their full potential. Entrants discover the excitement around the Dakar in theoretical workshops and practical tests, including three stages evoking the actual route of the Dakar. Five talented drivers are selected to take part every year, with the standout performer earning the chance to compete in the Dakar Rally the following season.
A RESPONSIBLE DAKAR
As well as looking at the world through the lens of solidarity, the Dakar swings its doors wide open, particularly for local youngsters, who get backstage tours of the event. The event also endeavours to minimise its environmental impact, treading carefully through the sensitive areas it visits and ramping up eco-responsible actions at the bivouac year after year. Among other things, it works hard to mitigate its footprint through the use of low-carbon energy, systematic waste collection and waste sorting.
- In Africa, under the impetus of Daniel Balavoine and Thierry Sabine, the Dakar brought about humanitarian projects such as "Paris–Dakar, pari du cœur" (construction of the Thierry Sabine Health Post and Maternity Hospital in Niaga, etc.). The non-profit SOS Sahel later became a staunch ally of the Dakar, helping to coordinate its efforts for African villages.
- In South America, the Dakar backed the REDD Madre de Dios project, working side by side with local communities and promoting the social well-being, health and education of children and youngsters in the schools of Iñapari (Peru); as well as the South American non-profit TECHO, which fights poverty and substandard housing through more than 400 social projects.
- Since 2020, the Dakar has remained committed to solidarity in Saudi Arabia. Among other initiatives, it has thrown its weight behind Help Center, an organisation that fosters inclusion and assists Saudi youngsters with physical or mental disabilities. It helps to fund sports gear for young members of the Desert Gazelles team, allowing them to train and compete in proper conditions.
- The Dakar also strives to cut food waste. Surplus food from the bivouac is donated to a humanitarian organisation. Surplus clothes from the organisation also find a second life in the local area through the donation of parkas and fleece jackets, as well as tents.
- In addition to these solidarity initiatives, the Dakar is stepping up its outreach to Saudi youngsters by giving hundreds of students a backstage tour of the bivouac every year. They get to meet the stars of rally raid and learn valuable lessons about mechanics, engineering, road safety, sustainable development and more.
- The Dakar has undergone regular carbon auditing since 2010, in line with its aspiration to become an ever more responsible event.
- This ambition in particular lies at the heart of the Dakar Future programme, conceived to turn the event into an open-air laboratory for alternative engines.
- Event route designers take into account the protection of biodiversity and sensitive natural areas, working side by side with national authorities.
- The Dakar steps up its responsible actions in the bivouac year after year with the long-term goal of making it entirely independent of fossil fuels. Soft mobility is promoted across the board (with a fleet of e-scooters, fully electric lightweight vehicles, etc.). Likewise, some of the organisation's power generators run on biofuel, while solar-powered generators supply power to some lighting fixtures.
- For several years now, waste management at the bivouac has involved the use of individualised recycling bins for aluminium, plastic, cardboard and paper. Catering services have been made more sustainable through the use of wooden cutlery and containers and the elimination of food packaging made of plastic. A green point is set up to collect special categories of waste (e.g. used oil), thus keeping the soil clean and sending waste to specialised processing facilities. BF Goodrich, a partner of the Dakar in charge of collecting and recycling tyres, launched the Clean Desert campaign, which takes place every year on the fringes of a stage of the rally, as a joint initiative with a local university.
- Furthermore, the site of the bivouac is systematically cleaned up once the race convoy has moved on.
