1994: The impassable Erg (27/40)

December 26 ^th 2017 - 19:16

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

The Mauritanian desert is a dive into the immensity. In this part of the Sahara, one can descend into dune ranges that stretch for tens of kilometres, where one progresses painfully and slowly… when you still have the chance to advance! In was in an erg of this size that the Dakar competitors were sent on stage 11, between Atar and Nouadhibou. Sensing the danger, Hubert Auriol chose to go around this enormous dune sector and received a penalty, as did his Citroën team mate and leader in the general classification, Pierre Lartigue. But Mitsubishi’s Bruno Saby immediately set off on an endless stage of dune crossing. He didn’t arrive at the Nouadhibou bivouac until the following day, beyond the time limit and thus excluded from the rally. The path to the title was now wide-open for Lartigue.