1979: the pioneer days (40/40)

January 5 ^th 2018 - 09:01

Edition 40 is approaching… a look back at 40 episodes with the most memorable images in the history of the Dakar.

On the 26th of December, 1978, a group of 170 competitors were ready to set off into the unknown and create history in signing up for an adventure and put their faith in Thierry Sabine, who offered “a challenge for those who take part, a dream for those who watch” with this first Paris-Dakar rally-raid. The adventure fascinated the spectators who gathered in Paris, with the Eifel Tower in the background. Nearly three weeks later, at the Place de l’Indépendance in Dakar, 74 vehicles made up the one general classification, which combined all the categories. Cyril Neveu on his Yamaha 500 XT was the first Dakar champion. The legend was underway…