Year 1: when the old-timers become the stars...
From Bisha to AlUla, by way of Neom and Ha’il, the 2021 Dakar bivouacs also cheered on the “Classic” drivers as they arrived. Even without spectators or guests, the vehicles from the first era of the Dakar are piquing curiosity, and their drivers can talk about them with real passion. A social media and selfie star, the Porsche 911 driven by Amy Lerner, may have won the popularity race, but it was outperformed by Marc Douton’s Sunhill buggy in the official regularity rankings, whose design also won over extravagant car enthusiasts.
Year 2: Ha'Il > Jeddah
With more than 140 participants, the Dakar Classic 2022 continues its progress on Saudi Arabian ground. Over 12 stages and 2,600 kilometres of special stages, the historic Dakar vehicles took part in an extraordinary regularity test, on tracks and in the dunes for the most adventurous. At the finish in Jeddah, Serge Mogno and Florent Drulhon won with their Land Cruiser HDJ80, more than 200 points ahead of Arnaud and Adeline Euvrard (Mercedes ML). Jesus Fuster Pliego and Juan Carlos Ramirez Moure completed the podium with a Mercedes G320.
Year 3: Sea Camp > Dammam
With 90 participants at the start, this third edition of the Dakar Classic promised to be spectacular and very open! 3383 km of special stages, which, for the first time, start from the Red Sea in Yanbu (Sea Camp) and reach the Persian Gulf in the city of Dammam. This edition lived up to all its promises, with the difficult terrain made all the more challenging by the complicated weather conditions. On the tracks, in the sand and in the mud, the historic vehicles were put through their paces! In this game of navigation and regularity, Spaniards Juan Morera and Lidia Ruba took the overall victory, ahead of their compatriots Carlos Santaolalla and Aran Sol I Juanola.
