Rally and rally raid
Stage rally uses timed stages on closed roads. Rally raid adds long-distance navigation across varied terrain. The Dakar Rally is a rally-raid event, not a circuit race.
Beyond trucks
The Dakar Rally includes motorcycles, cars, challenger and SSV categories, and trucks. Categories and technical rules can change between editions. Each discipline presents its own demands.
From Paris–Dakar to today
The first edition began in 1978 and finished in 1979, connecting Paris and Dakar. Later editions moved beyond that original route. The contemporary event is called the Dakar Rally, even when it does not finish in Dakar.
African Grand Prix learning guide. Always consult the current championship regulations for event-specific rules.