Wednesday 7th January 2015

Paris-Dakar 1990: Time For Tea?

With this year's Dakar now underway, what better video to get you in the mood?

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This year marks a quarter of a century since Peugeot last won the Paris-Dakar rally (as it was then) with Ari Vatanen and a 405 T16 Grand Raid. Now of course it is back with the 2008 DKR, Carlos Sainz and a desire to repeat that previous success.

At the moment, the Peugeot effort is going OK. At the time of writing Sainz's 2008 is in fourth, 19 minutes behind the lead Mini. There's another in 16th and the third car in 20th place.

Anyway, time for some Dakar nostalgia as now seems like the most appropriate occasion. In 1990 Peugeot entered four cars (two 405s and two 205s) and took all three podium positions; Ari Vatanen won despite crashing into a tree. You might say Peugeot had the luck that year.

This vid is a 15-minute highlights reel from back then and you can't help but be impressed at the manufacturer involvement. As well as Peugeot's entry, Mitsubishi raced with six Shoguns, Toyota brought five cars and Nissan had seven Patrols. Even Range Rover had a crack. And the surprise entry? Jacky Ickx. In a Lada. Did quite well in fact.

It's a fascinating view on the old Paris-Dakar and the challenges faced. Then when you think it must have been a challenge in a car you see the guys doing it on two wheels. Madness.

See the video here.

 

[100SRV]

Cool stuff!
Anyone remember the Toleman entry based on modified Metro 6R4?

[BIRMA]

I've been a fan of the Paris-Dakar from the early days when monster trucks and Porsche 959's were entered. It guided me in the direction of buying a Pajero Evolution after the 98 Dakar. Must admit I have lost interest in it nowadays far too civilised.

[DanielSan]

Just don't get the appeal with the Dakar personally, makes sense as a competitor but it's relatively unknown to the outside of motorsport world, seems to have little bearing on any marketing for manufacturers and as a spectator sport is just plain dull imo.

[100SRV]

DanielSan said:

Just don't get the appeal with the Dakar personally, makes sense as a competitor but it's relatively unknown to the outside of motorsport world, seems to have little bearing on any marketing for manufacturers and as a spectator sport is just plain dull imo.

I can think of are five world-class motorsport events which make all others pale in comparison, in no particular order I propose:

Dakar
Baja 1000
Isle of Man TT
Nurburgring 24 hours
Le Mans 24 Hours

Why?
Real world conditions (or as close as possible to)
Unpredictable courses
Human and machine endurance
A mix of amateur and professional competitors
A good mix of vehicles

They may not be widely televised or understood but I'm willing to bet that more technological evolutions have been proven on those five events than any other.

[carinaman]

Climbdance for those that haven't seen it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEuZG37gFdM

The 405T16 could've been my favourite car at FoS in 2007.

[Fleckers]

100SRV said:

DanielSan said:

Just don't get the appeal with the Dakar personally, makes sense as a competitor but it's relatively unknown to the outside of motorsport world, seems to have little bearing on any marketing for manufacturers and as a spectator sport is just plain dull imo.

I can think of are five world-class motorsport events which make all others pale in comparison, in no particular order I propose:

Dakar
Baja 1000
Isle of Man TT
Nurburgring 24 hours
Le Mans 24 Hours

Why?
Real world conditions (or as close as possible to)
Unpredictable courses
Human and machine endurance
A mix of amateur and professional competitors
A good mix of vehicles

They may not be widely televised or understood but I'm willing to bet that more technological evolutions have been proven on those five events than any other.

Agree plus drag racing from RWYB to top dragsters

[cptsideways]

DanielSan said:

Just don't get the appeal with the Dakar personally, makes sense as a competitor but it's relatively unknown to the outside of motorsport world, seems to have little bearing on any marketing for manufacturers and as a spectator sport is just plain dull imo.

Have you ever been to Africa? Every other car is a Peugeot, ask anyone why - Because Dakar. A hugely successful if very long term marketing strategy by the French. I'm not sure that was the plan but it worked.

It's why VW did the whole 4x4 thing essentially for the big South American markets.

It's also why I want one of these at some point

[carinaman]

I'm not sure I've seen those LWB 205T16s before. Not a looker like the 405s.

Those Range Rovers make me think of Bowler.

I really wish Ari Vatanen had got Mosley's job.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

cptsideways said:

Have you ever been to Africa? Every other car is a Peugeot, ask anyone why - Because Dakar. A hugely successful if very long term marketing strategy by the French. I'm not sure that was the plan but it worked.

Err, are you sure it ain't because they colonised half the continent?

[BIRMA]

A Pajero Evo truly at home

[BIRMA]

Mine at home too, fantastic cars

[carinaman]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Err, are you sure it ain't because they colonised half the continent?

Were the 504s built so well with a mind to the African markets?

[100SRV]

cptsideways said:

It's also why I want one of these at some point

Me too:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

[BIRMA]

100SRV said:

cptsideways said:

It's also why I want one of these at some point

Me too:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

Very rare manual too.

[Chris944_S2]

DanielSan said:

Just don't get the appeal with the Dakar personally, makes sense as a competitor but it's relatively unknown to the outside of motorsport world, seems to have little bearing on any marketing for manufacturers and as a spectator sport is just plain dull imo.

France TV gets 3 million viewers each evening for their daily hour long summary of the Dakar. Its shown live, timed to coincide with the leading cars arriving at the bivouac. For comparison, BBC F1 averaged 3.2 million viewers in 2014 (helped by having a British driver fighting for the championship).
Just because the UK gets no coverage of the Dakar doesn't make it an unknown event.