After two weeks of action, the forty-sixth Dakar Rally has come and gone and the 2024 World Rally-Raid Championship is officially underway.
Missed any of our coverage? Here’s a nifty little archive of what we cooked up in the year leading up to and during the race.
Features
- INTERVIEW: Sara Price breaks down 2024 Dakar Rally ticket, Mexico triple (14 May 2023)
- INTERVIEW: Justin Gerlach pursues Dakar Rally dream (27 June 2023)
- INTERVIEW: João Ferreira “really, really looking forward” to new life at Can-Am (9 October 2023)
- The Checkered Flag‘s newcomer’s guide to rally raid (3 January)
- INTERVIEW: Alex Scheuerell breaks down Polaris’ 2024 Dakar challenger (13 January)
Pre-race stories
2023
- 20 January: TCF‘s 2023 Dakar Rally newsroom
- 25 January: Charan Moore to enter 2024 Dakar Rally, won’t defend Malle Moto title
- 25 January: Juan Puga plans Dakar Rally return, Malle Moto entry in 2024
- 28 January: Anja van Loon set for truck début in Morocco ahead of 2024 Dakar T5 entry
- 28 January: After near-fatal crash, CS Santosh envisions Dakar return in 2024
- 4 February: Carlos Llibre, ALL1 Dakar pursue Dakar 2024 in brother’s memory
- 17 February: Privateer-friendly WCT/TreasuryONE Toyota Hilux T1+ to run 2024 Dakar Rally
- 24 February: Red-Lined Motorsport launches REVO T1+
- 6 March: 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge: Tobias Ebster punches Dakar 2024 ticket with Rally2 win
- 8 March: Leo Larrauri plans Dakar return in 2024
- 9 March: Arturo Merzario to run 2024 Dakar Classic
- 13 March: Aliyyah and Yasmeen Koloc prepare off-road-heavy calendar for Dakar 2024
- 15 March: Javier Campos plans 2024 Dakar Rally début, may run Morocco
- 15 March: Eryk Goczał graduating to T3 for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 16 March: Armindo Araújo eyeing 2024 Dakar Rally début
- 18 March: Eduard Pons contesting rest of W2RC ahead of Dakar début in 2024
- 18 March: Juan Morera plans Dakar Classic defence in Porsche 959
- 21 March: KAMAZ’s Anton Shibalov: “Even those not in [T5] say, ‘It’s not so interesting without you.'”
- 23 March: Michele Bini plans Dakar 2024 entry with hometown Vicopisano
- 24 March: Jim Pearson eyes Dakar Rally return in 2024
- 24 March: Iader Giraldi set for Dakar Rally return in 2024
- 25 March: Jaap Bolk envisions bioethanol-powered, carbon-neutral 2024 Dakar Classic entry
- 29 March: Neels Theric becomes Kove factory rider
- 30 March: Student-run Ahúja Racing plans Dakar Rally entry
- 31 March: Franco Caimi departs Hero MotoSports
- 31 March: ASO mulling slight 2024 Dakar Rally delay
- 1 April: Carlos Sainz circles 4th Dakar win as final career goal
- 11 April: Nani Roma tests Ford Ranger T1+, Dakar 2024 lineup TBA
- 11 April: Audi’s 2024 Dakar Rally plans hinge on EoT
- 12 April: Maha Al-Hamali plans Dakar Rally début in 2024
- 13 April: Jatin Jain, Sebastián Olarte pursuing Dakar 2024 ticket at Sonora
- 15 April: Étienne Gélinas’ Dakar 2024 quest runs through Sonora
- 17 April: Cameron Thixton drops Dakar 2024 plans due to funding, still supporting brother Ashley
- 17 April: Dwain Barnard and Ronald Venter gear up for Sonora in Dakar 2024 pursuits
- 18 April: Ardit Kurtaj eyeing Dakar Rally début in 2024
- 22 April: Century Racing CR7 T1+ development underway, testing in July
- 27 April: Frédéric Chesneau to pilot Century CR6 at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 30 April: 2023 Sonora Rally: Sara Price clinches Dakar 2024 ticket in National Auto
- 30 April: 2023 Sonora Rally: Francisco Alvarez secures 2024 Dakar Rally entry
- 4 May: Nani Roma joining M-Sport Ford, Laia Sanz also in talks
- 7 May: Feryn Dakar Sport opts for 2024 Africa Eco Race over Dakar
- 11 May: Injuries sideline Manuel Lucchese for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 17 May: Jonathan Savel eyes Dakar Rally début in 2024
- 17 May: Thomas Kongshøj plans Dakar return in 2024 and beyond
- 2 June: Toyota Gazoo Racing Czech formed, Tomáš Ouředníček to race Dakar 2024
- 3 June: Barbora Holická taking a quack at 2024 Dakar Classic
- 3 June: Mathieu Dovèze joins BAS World KTM Racing Team
- 4 June: 14-day 2024 Dakar Rally introduces Chrono Stage
- 6 June: Team Audi Sport regroups for Dakar testing
- 9 June: Dakar Team Spierings partners with RaceArt for 2024
- 11 June: João Costa to race UMM Alter in 2024 Dakar Classic
- 12 June: Desert Endurance Motorsport bringing quartet to 2024 Dakar Classic
- 14 June: Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body begins Dakar 2024 testing
- 14 June: Kirsten Landman back for third Dakar Rally in 2024
- 17 June: TwinTrail Racing Team plans Dakar return in 2024
- 18 June: Nicolás Cavigliasso moves up to T3 for Argentina, Dakar 2024
- 21 June: Mohammed Al-Twaijri returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
- 27 June: Jayden Els wins Dakar 2024 registration in TGR 1000 Desert Race
- 28 June: FIA to grant EoT for Audi at Dakar 2024
- 28 June: Borja Pérez plans Rallye du Maroc entry for Dakar 2024
- 28 June: Dakar Rally’s port of departure moving to Barcelona
- 30 June: Iván Merichal plans Dakar Rally début in 2024 with tree-planting campaign
- 3 July: Pascal Thomasse to enter 5th decade of Dakar competition in 2024
- 5 July: Olaf Harmsen joins Gaia Motorsports as Jeffrey Otten’s navigator
- 11 July: Oran O’Kelly hopes to become first Irish Dakar rider in over a decade
- 12 July: Audi ending Dakar Rally programme after 2024
- 12 July: Guillaume de Mévius: Dakar 2024 will be “difficult, but nice”
- 12 July: Nani Roma, Gareth Woolridge to lead Ford Ranger T1+ assault
- 15 July: Jeremías Pascual enters Desafío Ruta 40 on Dakar 2024 mission
- 16 July: Benediktas Vanagas: Saudi Arabia “can have many different Dakars”, but “everyone wants to feel other countries” too
- 19 July: Croatian Rally Champion Juraj Šebalj to make Dakar début in 2024
- 20 July: Rafael Lesmes switching to truck, entering Dakar Classic in 2024
- 22 July: Sven Quandt open to continuing RS Q e-tron programme after Audi Dakar exit
- 25 July: ASO, FIM begin selecting 2024 Dakar Rally riders
- 25 July: ASO, FIM tweak 2024 Dakar Rally quad entry requirements
- 29 July: BFGoodrich bringing new tyre to 2024 Dakar Rally
- 1 August: TH-Trucks, CAP 4 Racing join forces for Polaris Dakar 2024 project
- 10 August: Ignacio Corcuera’s Dakar 2024 truck a former snowplow, firefighter trainer
- 4 September: 2023 Desafío Ruta 40: Juan José Semino, Juan Santiago Rostan win Dakar 2024 slots
- 5 September: Sebastián Halpern forgoing Rallye du Maroc, 2024 Dakar Rally
- 7 September: Janus van Kasteren, Michiel Becx return to Team de Rooy for Dakar 2024
- 13 September: Xavier Flick joins Kove Moto factory programme
- 21 September: Charlie Herbst to ride GasGas at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 24 September: Fabien Domas switches to GasGas for Morocco, Dakar 2024
- 4 October: Dakar Rally remains unavailable for MAZ, says Siarhei Viazovich
- 4 October: Rainbow Truck Team to race hydrogen-powered Amarok at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 6 October: Toby Price re-ups with Red Bull KTM for 2024
- 12 October: After shoulder injury, Henk Lategan focused on recovering for Dakar
- 12 October: André Thewessen returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
- 14 October: Dakarspeed pushes Dakar Rally return to 2025
- 17 October:Vaidotas Žala returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
- 18 October: Hino Team Sugawara returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
- 22 October: Toby Hederics, WiIlliam Grarre win Road to Dakar
- 23 October: Japanese auto giants to jointly field hydrogen car at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 23 October: Kamena Rally Team delays 2024 Dakar Rally plans
- 25 October: Andrea Schiumarini returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
- 26 October: Mason Klein “talking to the teams but nothing is happening”
- 26 October: Nasser Al-Attiyah joins Prodrive
- 29 October: Bruno Leblanc accepted for 2024 Dakar Rally after Morocco performance
- 2 November: Hero MotoSports acquires Monster Energy backing
- 2 November: Gioele Meoni accepted for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 2 November: Julien Dalbec earns 2024 Dakar Rally ticket in Morocco
- 3 November: Moto Racing Group accepted for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 3 November: Joan Barreda joins Hero MotoSports for 2024
- 3 November: COVID-19 forces Mirjam Pol to miss 2024 Dakar Rally
- 4 November: Lucas Del Rio skipping 2024 Dakar Rally for personal reasons
- 7 November: 2024 Kove 450 Rally revealed
- 9 November: Patronellis skipping 2024 Dakar Rally
- 9 November: Fantic Rally Team to field three-rider effort at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 9 November: Pau Navarro to race Mini JCW Rally Plus for X-raid at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 9 November: Seth Quintero, Lucas Moraes to race for Toyota Gazoo Racing at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 10 November: Kirsten Landman skipping 2024 Dakar Rally
- 10 November: Christine GZ making Dakar Rally début in 2024
- 10 November: ALL1 Dakar locked in for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 11 November: Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa bringing three Hiluxes to 2024 Dakar Rally
- 12 November: Jérôme de Sadeleer returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
- 16 November: Mason Klein partners with Kove Moto for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 18 November: Jean-Pascal Besson skipping 2024 Dakar Rally after accident
- 18 November: Green Power Race entering electric bike in 2024 Dakar Rally Mission 1000
- 20 November: Vaidotas Žala returning to Mini for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 20 November: Astara Team to field dual female driver lineup at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 20 November: 2024 Dakar Rally spans 7,891 km
- 21 November: KH-7 Ecovergy’s hydrogen truck entering 2024 Dakar Rally Mission 1000
- 22 November: Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics reveals 2024 Dakar Rally programme
- 22 November: Lack of sponsorship forces Ahmed Alkuwari’s 2024 Dakar Rally withdrawal
- 22 November: Roussel: FIA had to “review everything” for rally raid class renamings
- 24 November: Tacita fielding two electric bikes in 2024 Dakar Rally’s Mission 1000
- 25 November: Gert Huzink to race as Jongbloed Dakar Team in 2024
- 25 November: “Military-type” rations to be distributed for 2024 Dakar Rally’s Chrono Stage
- 28 November: Pablo Copetti: “ASO made decisions that are killing the quad class”
- 29 November: Heart surgery sidelines Ondřej Martinec for 2024 Dakar Classic
- 29 November: HanWei partnering with Red-Lined to build T1+ car
- 30 November: Joan Font returns to SSV for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 30 November: Audi upgrades RS Q e-tron for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 30 November: Buggyra reveals Tatra Buggyra Evo3 truck for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 30 November: North’s Girls, Perminaite drop 2024 Dakar Rally plans
- 1 December: Bruno Santos finally set for Dakar Rally début in 2024
- 2 December: Arctic Leopard bringing three electric bikes to 2024 Dakar Rally Mission 1000
- 3 December: Zdeněk Tůma skipping 2024 Dakar Rally
- 4 December: Polli, Espinasse take up “innovative challenge” of racing Tacitas at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 4 December: National flags on vehicles banned at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 6 December: CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team to run nearly full 2024 W2RC
- 6 December: HoleShot Competition to race hydrogen/diesel truck in 2024 Dakar Classic
- 7 December: KH-7 Ecovergy’s 2024 hydrogen truck introduces HVO
- 7 December: Matthias Walkner to miss 2024 Dakar Rally after breaking leg in training crash
- 8 December: Javi Vega not being scored in 2024 Dakar Rally as he remains in Malle Moto
- 13 December: 199 on FIA entry list
- 14 December: Toyota Gazoo Racing upgrades to Toyota GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U
- 16 December: Loder brothers to honour father with G-Wagen at 2024 Dakar Classic
- 16 December: 2 years after explosion, Philippe Boutron returns to Dakar Rally
- 18 December: Chicherit, de Mévius to race Hilux Overdrives in 2024
- 19 December: Éric Abel, Los Amigos skipping 2024 Dakar Rally
- 20 December: 146 on FIM entry list
- 20 December: Kris Meeke returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
- 21 December: FIA finalises Cross-Country Rally regulations ahead of 2024
- 22 December: 80 on Dakar Classic entry list
- 22 December: Injury sidelines Mike Wiedemann for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 22 December: Kamil Wiśniewski to miss 2024 Dakar Rally, plans return for W2RC
- 23 December: Gerard Farrés to ‘Rock the Dragon’ at 2024 Dakar Rally
- 24 December: 11-strong Mission 1000 to test alt-power
- 24 December: Yoshio Ikemachi to run first Dakar Rally on bike since 2000 in 2024
- 25 December: Glenn Brinkman: “Dakar is the kind of thing you have to do before you die”
- 25 December: Mário Franco: “Dakar, as the world’s biggest motor race, always has to offer some surprises and challenges different from usual”
- 27 December: Polaris RZR Pro R Factory to tackle 2024 Dakar Rally with Sébastien Loeb Racing
- 28 December: Pascal de Baar replaces injured Martin Šoltys at Tatra Buggyra for 2024 Dakar Rally
- 29 December: Sonia Ledesma on skipping 2024 Dakar: “They think you are worth less than a man”
- 30 December: Last-minute navigator changes inbound
- 30 December: Fabio Lottero finally set for Dakar Rally début in 2024
2024
- 4 January: Klein, Kove avert customs crisis
- 4 January: Ricky Brabec: “It is tough for Americans to make it in the off-road world”
- 5 January: Mashael Al-Obaidan sitting out Dakar
- 5 January: Lukas Lauda honouring father with tribute livery
Mid-race stories
- 13 January: Rodrigo Varela racing with backup Can-Am due to Red Sea crisis
- 13 January: 47 approved for Dakar Experience
- 15 January: KH-7 Ecovergy wins first Mission 1000 Fan Boost
- 17 January: Marco Piana fined for national flag on truck
- 18 January: Mason Klein: “I may not have made it to the finish line, but I definitely had a good ride”
- 22 January: Eryk Goczał: “Trust me, we wouldn’t risk the Dakar Rally by breaking any rule”
Stage winners
| Stage | Date | Overall Cars Winner | Overall Bikes Winner | Recap |
| Prologue | 5 January | Mattias Ekström | Tosha Schareina | Recap |
| Stage #1 | 6 January | Guillaume de Mévius | Ross Branch | Recap |
| Stage #2 | 7 January | Stéphane Peterhansel | José Ignacio Cornejo | Recap |
| Stage #3 | 8 January | Lucas Moraes | Kevin Benavides | Recap |
| Stage #4 | 9 January | Sébastien Loeb | José Ignacio Cornejo | Recap |
| Stage #5 | 10 January | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Pablo Quintanilla | Recap |
| Stage #6 | 11/12 January | Sébastien Loeb | Adrien Van Beveren | Recap |
| Stage #7 | 14 January | Sébastien Loeb | José Ignacio Cornejo | Recap |
| Stage #8 | 15 January | Mattias Ekström | Kevin Benavides | Recap |
| Stage #9 | 16 January | Sébastien Loeb | Adrien Van Beveren | Recap |
| Stage #10 | 17 January | Guerlain Chicherit | Ricky Brabec | Recap |
| Stage #11 | 18 January | Guerlain Chicherit | Ross Branch | Recap |
| Stage #12 | 19 January | Sébastien Loeb | Kevin Benavides | Recap |
Overall winners
| Class | Number | Competitor | Team | Time | Recap |
| Ultimate (T1) | 204 | Carlos Sainz | Team Audi Sport | 48:15:18 | Recap |
| Stock (T2) | 500 | Akira Miura* | Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body | 78:43:58 | Recap |
| Challenger (T3) | 306 | Cristina Gutiérrez* | Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team | 53:59:47 | Recap |
| SSV (T4) | 411 | Xavier de Soultrait* | Sébastien Loeb Racing | 56:37:43 | Recap |
| Truck (T5) | 601 | Martin Macík Jr.* | MM Technology | 54:34:48 | Recap |
| RallyGP | 9 | Ricky Brabec | Monster Energy Honda Rally Team | 51:30:08 | Recap |
| Rally2 | 20 | Harith Noah* | Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team | 54:24:44 | Recap |
| Malle Moto | 96 | Tobias Ebster | Kini Rally Racing Team | 58:17:00 | Recap |
| Quad | 174 | Manuel Andújar | 7240 Team | 64:16:53 | Recap |
| Classic | 768 | Carlos Santaolalla* | Factory Tub | 820 points | Recap |
| Mission 1000 | 1030 | Jordi Juvanteny* | KH7-Ecovergy Team | 180 points | Recap |
