2021 Dakar Rally

The 2021 Dakar Rally took place in Saudi Arabia from January 3rd to 17th, featuring a record-breaking 654 vehicles across various categories. The event included stages for Bikes, Quads, Cars (including Light Prototypes), UTVs, Trucks, and Classics. Due to COVID-19 safety measures, participants underwent rigorous testing upon arrival.

Several incidents occurred throughout the rally, affecting key competitors like CS Santosh, who sustained injuries from a high-speed crash, and Pierre Cherpin, who died after a severe crash on Stage 7. Other notable incidents involved Toby Price and Luciano Benavides, who withdrew due to serious injuries, and Juan Barreda Bort, who was airlifted after running out of fuel.

Notable winners included Nasser Al-Attiyah in the Car category for Toyota Gazoo Racing and Stephane Peterhansel with Iveco. In the Original by Motul class, 31 competitors started, with 20 completing the race. The rally concluded on January 17th, marking a challenging yet competitive event.