The Dakar rally is probably the most gruelling and dangerous motor race in the world. Motorcycles, cars, quad bikes and trucks compete, not so much with each other, but with the race itself, to survive each year’s course. Competitors slog through each mile in danger of serious injury and death.
So on the first of January, 1980, these brave (mad) riders set out with 211 other cars, bikes and trucks. On the 23rd of January ,81 competitors make it into Dakar and cross the finish line, across 7 countries and 10, 000km of brutal terrain. Cyril Neveu won for the second time in succession on a Yamaha. Kotulinsky and Patrick Zaniroli won the car class
The 1980 event saw vehicle manufacturers, such as Yamaha, Volkswagen, Lada and BMW, taking part, and the introduction of a category for trucks.