Friday 31st December 2010
Pic Of The Week: Dakar Rally Then And Now
Looking forward to a new year in motorsport (and back a bit)
Click to preview
With today's POTW teetering on the cusp of a brand new year, we felt it was time to look forward into 2011 and to a new year of motorsport.
We didn't have to look too far, mind you, because tomorrow (provided you're reading this on the last day of 2010) marks the ceremonial start of the 2011 edition of the Dakar rally in Buenos Aires Argentina.
These days, heavily modified off-roaders dominate what remains one of the world's toughest feats of motorsport endurance. This is a genre epitomised by the VW Race Touareg, which took victory in the 2009 and 2010 events and looks set to be a top contender for 2011 honours, too.
But it wasn't always thus. Back in the 1980s - when the world was basically mad - Porsche sent a supercar to battle the desert rally, and it won. At a loss as to what to do with its 959, which had been developed for the still-born Group B circuit racing formula, Porsche decided that it would modify it for what was then the Paris-Dakar. It duly did so and, in 1986, took victory with René Metge and Dominique Lemoyne.
Click to preview
Two very different Dakar weapons, two very different eras. But which appeals more? A 400bhp rear-engined supercar careering across the surface of Mars, or a 310bhp diesel off-roader leaping improbably through sand dunes?
Of course, with the wonders of the internetweb you don't have to choose, so we've provided you with both...
Merry New Year etc...
Porsche 959:
Normal (1280x1024)
WideScreen (1440x900)
SuperSize (2048x1536)
VW Touareg:
Normal (1280x1024)
WideScreen (1440x900)
SuperSize (2048x1536)
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Draexin
Original Poster
97 posts
40 months
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I'm commenting in the future... Looking forward indeed... 
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PascalBuyens
2,598 posts
152 months
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Draexin said: I'm commenting in the future... Looking forward indeed... Thursday 23rd December.... SO last week :-p
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Johnny
4,570 posts
154 months
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I'm really looking forward to the Dakar this year..Mainly for this:  
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Draexin
Original Poster
97 posts
40 months
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PascalBuyens said: Draexin said: I'm commenting in the future... Looking forward indeed... Thursday 23rd December.... SO last week :-p Well... On the 23rd, today was the future. Wait, that sentence sounds.. weird XD
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k-ink
4,709 posts
49 months
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Mmm... download the uber cool 959 image, or a dull VW van... tricky one. I miss the 80's 
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jp-speed-triple
1,504 posts
57 months
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Come on Riggers......how about a pic of the unsuported Simon Pavey single handing his way through this year on a 450bmw...or a shot of the best element of the Dakar...the trucks. nice to see its getting ANY coverage at all however! 
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buggalugs
6,923 posts
107 months
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Cameras have come a long way in 25 years :P
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M666 EVO
856 posts
32 months
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I heard a stat years ago about the 959, if you shot past a 959 at 100mph it could overtake you within 1/4 of a mile. Not sure if that is true but in the mid 80's, that was a neat trick to pull off!
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soad
16,127 posts
46 months
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Aww, I just love that first pic! 
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Mastodon2
5,915 posts
35 months
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I love that Touareg, it's such a tank and it must be nigh on unstoppable. I think the chance to drive something like that in an event like the Dakar rally, even in South America, would be an unforgettable experience. It's just about the only diesel vehicle I can think of that I actually want to drive.
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Furious Styles
815 posts
33 months
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959 picture is  Off to scour t'interweb for the Tamiya one i had as a child as the real thing will forever elude my bank balance.
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pSyCoSiS
1,596 posts
75 months
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959 is an awesome car, although you don't hear / see that much about them these days.
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rypt
2,548 posts
60 months
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Taking the rally away from Paris-Dakar is a move that I shall never agree with it, sure setup another rally doing Chile etc, but keep the historic one too
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Dan 87
49 posts
37 months
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Amazing pics! How've I never thought to put the POTW as my phones background until today! I feel a this could start a weekly background change 
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Johnny
4,570 posts
154 months
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rypt said: Taking the rally away from Paris-Dakar is a move that I shall never agree with it, sure setup another rally doing Chile etc, but keep the historic one too Yes, but you do know why they have moved it don't you?
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Mighty Flex
523 posts
41 months
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Furious Styles said: 959 picture is Off to scour t'interweb for the Tamiya one i had as a child as the real thing will forever elude my bank balance. You might find it hard to justify the cost of an original Tamiya one then...
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k-ink
4,709 posts
49 months
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... you might find it hard to justify the cost of any of the old Tamiy models. Especially when they always rerelease everything! Zero point collecting them or paying more than RRP.
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JaySTee
179 posts
44 months
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Mighty Flex said: Furious Styles said: 959 picture is Off to scour t'interweb for the Tamiya one i had as a child as the real thing will forever elude my bank balance. You might find it hard to justify the cost of an original Tamiya one then... I used to have the tamiya 959, gave it a hard time but it wad pretty rapid and a lot of fun. Maybe I should have looked after it a little better!!
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rypt
2,548 posts
60 months
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Johnny said: rypt said: Taking the rally away from Paris-Dakar is a move that I shall never agree with it, sure setup another rally doing Chile etc, but keep the historic one too Yes, but you do know why they have moved it don't you? Because apparently the terrorists were somehow going to attack a rally that goes through deserts and is very spread out It is a load of nonsense really, the rally should have been kept in Europe and Africa
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dandarez
4,504 posts
153 months
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How well will this little MINI do? Superb shot of it yumping in this week's AUTOSPORT. 
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