The 2021 Dakar Rally was a
rally raid
Rally raid is a type of off-road motorsport event competed with different types of vehicles. Along with shorter Baja (cross-country rally), baja rallies, rally raid constitutes cross-country rallying. Both the Fédération Internationale de l'Aut ...
event held in
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...
and the 43rd edition of the
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally () or simply "The Dakar" (), formerly known as the Paris–Dakar Rally (), is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). It is an off-road endurance event traversing terrain much tougher than convent ...
. The event was held for 14 days, starting from 3 January and ended 15 January 2021. It was the second time Saudi Arabia had hosted the event, with support from the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation. The race started and ended in
Jeddah
Jeddah ( ), alternatively transliterated as Jedda, Jiddah or Jidda ( ; , ), is a List of governorates of Saudi Arabia, governorate and the largest city in Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia, and the country's second largest city after Riyadh, located ...
, allowing the competitors to venture through the desert and alongside the
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To its north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and th ...
. The route consists of one prologue stage and 12 normal stages, with one rest day in
Ha'il on 9 January.
The rally was originally intended to run through 2–3 additional countries, with
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
and
Jordan
Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...
being rumoured likely candidates. However, due to travel and border restrictions implemented in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, the route stayed entirely within Saudi Arabian territory.
Summary
The route
A completely new route has been put together, described as a lot slower, more varied, and more technical. The route includes 1 Prologue stage, 12 stages including 2 loop stages, 1 marathon stage. The exact route was revealed in November 2020.
Changes
There will be a ''Prologue'' stage that will determine the starting positions for Stage 1. The Road Books will only be distributed 10 min. prior to the start of the stage. There will be an option of a digital roadbook. New classifications will be introduced for T3: Light Proto, T4: SSV, T5: Truck. The ''Elite / Priority Driver'' list will be extended from bike only to all categories. ''Original by MOTUL'' category will continue, which limits and controls on the use of external assistance. Improvements in safety include a speed limit of 90 km/h in hazardous sectors, mandatory first aid training certificate for all competitors, automatic Sentinel sound warning system for dangers classed level 2 and 3, and mandatory airbag vests for all bike and quad drivers. New regulations for ''Elite'' bikers will see a limit of 1 piston change and 6 rear tires for the whole rally; all tires will need to be the same brand and model. Bikers will not be allowed assistance during the refueling. The organizers are promoting vehicles using alternative energy sources by introducing a 50% registration fee discount in all categories, introducing a prize in the Alternative Energy Challenge, and introducing new regulations for these vehicles. ''Dakar Experience'' ranking and regulations have been revamped, it will only be available for amateur, non-''Elite/Priority drivers''. A new ''Dakar Classic'' class will be introduced for cars and trucks manufactured before 2000, or new cars built to original pre-2000 specification. These vehicles will share the same bivouac and the organization but will run in a parallel, yet different route, suitable for historic vehicles. The class will feature a reduced entry fee, yet the same rules and fees will apply for the assistance.
Further changes came just before the event, when revamped FIA regulations for Cross-Country rally stipulated speed limits across all categories. Vehicles in the T1 and T2 (Cars) categories were now restricted to while vehicles in the T3, T4, and T5 categories (Light Prototypes, UTVs, and Trucks) were limited to . Motorcycles and Quads had already been subjected to speed limits for several years.
This year is the first time cars are allowed to run turbocharged petrol engines, previously only diesels could be turbocharged. The first makers to avail of this regulation were
Prodrive
Prodrive is an England, English motorsport and advanced engineering group based in Banbury,
Oxfordshire.
History
Prodrive was founded in 1984 by Ian Parry and David Richards (motorsport executive), David Richards.
Prodrive sold its 51% s ...
with its new BRX Hunter car.
Entry list
Number of entries
Vehicles and Categories
:Separate rankings for women and newcomers in each category, "Original by Motul" for bikes, as well as 6x6, <10 L engine size, alternative energies rankings for trucks.
Note
– The "Dakar Legends" - competitors that participated in 10 or more Dakar events.
– The first time starters - "rookies".
– Competitors that were not able to start the race.
– Competitors participating in "Original by Motul" — limited assistance marathon class.
Note
– The "Dakar Legends" - competitors that participated in 10 or more Dakar events.
– The first time starters - "rookies".
– Competitors that were not able to start the race.
– Competitors participating in "Original by Motul" — limited assistance marathon class.
Note
– The "Dakar Legends" - competitors that participated in 10 or more Dakar events.
– The first time starters - "rookies".
– Competitors that were not able to start the race.
Note
– The "Dakar Legends" - competitors that participated in 10 or more Dakar events.
– The first time starters - "rookies".
– Late entries.
– Competitors that were not able to start the race.
Note
– The "Dakar Legends" - competitors that participated in 10 or more Dakar events.
– The first time starters - "rookies".
– Late entries.
– Competitors that were not able to start the race.
Note
– The "Dakar Legends" - competitors that participated in 10 or more Dakar events.
– The first time starters - "rookies".
– Competitors that were not able to start the race.
A number of participants were affected by the on-going
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
pandemic. Before participants travelled to Saudi Arabia on 26-27 of December, Nani Roma co-driver Daniel Oliveras Carreras had to be replaced by Alexandre Winocq, Gintas Petrus co-driver Povilas Valaitis replaced by José Marques, Denis Krotov co-driver Konstantin Zhiltsov replaced by Oleg Uparenko, Ricardo Porem co-driver Manuel Porem replaced by Jorge Monteiro. Vaidotas Žala two main technicians contracted the coronavirus, numerous other teams were forced to make last-minute changes to replace team members that were tested positive for coronavirus. Trucks #523 and #526 withdrew after Francesc Ester and Jorge Ballbe contracted coronavirus.
After arrival in Jeddah, all participants had to take two coronavirus tests two days apart. #56 Giordano Pacheco and #357 Alexey Titov tests came back positive, repeat tests were also positive, and they were forced to withdraw from the race. #23 Ivan Jakeš second test came back positive. They all had to self-isolate for 7 days before being allowed to travel home.
Stages
Stage 5 proved to be very difficult for significant number of competitors who finished it very late. Therefore, organizers decided to delay the start of stage 6 by 1 hour 30 minutes and shorten the special on stage 6 by 100 kilometres.
Stage 11 has been shortened by 50 km due to weather conditions.
Stage winners
Stage results
Bikes
Quads
Cars
Light Prototypes
UTVs
Trucks
Classics
Final standings
Bikes
Quads
Cars
Light Prototypes
UTVs
Trucks
Classics
Original by Motul
The "Original by Motul" category refers to bikes and quads competitors competing without any kind of assistance. The organizers provide 1 trunk per competitor for storage of the personal belongings, spare parts and tools. Competitors are only allowed to bring 1 headlight, 1 set of wheels, 1 set of tyres, 1 tent with sleeping bag and mattress, 1 travel bag and 1x 25L backpack. Organizers allow free use of the generators, compressors and tool-boxes in the bivouac. 31 competitors started the race in this category, and 20 reached the finish.
Incidents
CS Santosh, riding
Hero 450 Rally, suffered high speed crash on Stage 4, sustaining head injuries. Fellow riders performed CPR until the medics arrived. Santosh was placed in an induced coma awaiting further tests. Scans revealed no major injuries apart from dislocated shoulder, and no major issues that would impact recovery, was announced on 11 January 2021.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux driver Henk Lategan crashed heavily on Stage 5, and was airlifted to hospital with a broken
collar bone
The clavicle, collarbone, or keybone is a slender, S-shaped long bone approximately long that serves as a strut between the shoulder blade and the sternum (breastbone). There are two clavicles, one on each side of the body. The clavicle is the ...
. His co-driver, Brett Cummings, walked away uninjured.
Two incidents took place on Stage 7. French rider Pierre Cherpin, riding Husqvarna bike, crashed heavily at kilometer 178, sustaining head injuries. He was airlifted to hospital and placed in an induced coma. Another Frenchman Olivier Susset collided with a
Sodicars buggy at kilometer 419, driven by Manuel Plaza Perez and Mónica Plaza, and was hospitalized with suspected broken ankle and elbow.
On 14 January 2021 Pierre Cherpin died while being transferred from Saudi Arabia to France.
Two more incidents occurred on Stage 8. Husqvarna biker
Xavier de Soultrait
Xavier de Soultrait (born 9 May 1988) is a French rally motorcyclist and driver. De Soultrait has competed primarily in rally raid events, including the Dakar Rally. He won the 2024 Dakar Rally
The 2024 Dakar Rally was a rally raid event held ...
crashed heavily and was hospitalized. Another Husqvarna rider, Maurizio Gerini, was taken to hospital after finishing the stage. Gerini suffered heavy fall 30 km to the finish, but managed to complete the stage. He was diagnosed with internal bleeding in abdomen area.
Three more bikers crashed out and were airlifted to the hospital on Stage 9. KTM rider
Toby Price
Toby Joseph Price OAM is an Australian off-road and enduro motorcycle racing world champion. He lives in Gold Coast, Queensland, and rode for the KTM Off-Road Racing Team until October 2015, then the Red Bull Factory KTM Rally Team until 2024 ...
crashed on kilometre 155 and suffered broken collar bone and both wrists as well as extensive bruising.
Luciano Benavides riding Honda was also airlifted after falling and dislocating his shoulder on kilometre 242.
Husqvarna rider Maciej Giemza withdrew after he tore his shoulder ligaments and suffered two fractures in the foot after hitting a rock at 110 km/h and rolling several times.
On Stage 10,
José Ignacio Cornejo
José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ).
In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , ...
, who entered the stage with an 11-minute lead in the overall standings in the bike category, crashed 252 kilometers into the stage. Cornejo continued to the finish of the stage, but was forced to retire by race organizers after a medical evaluation at the finishing area revealed a concussion. He was airlifted to a hospital directly from the finishing area.
Honda biker Juan Barreda Bort ran out of fuel at kilometre 267 on Stage 11, after missing the refueling point at kilometre 174. Bort was leading the race at a waypoint at kilometre 215. After failing to get help from other competitors for two hours, he called in for medical assistance and was airlifted to the hospital. Juan suffered a fall two days ago, where he fell unconscious for a short time, but was able to continue.
References
{{Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally by year
Saudi Arabia sport-related lists
Dakar
Dakar ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Senegal, largest city of Senegal. The Departments of Senegal, department of Dakar has a population of 1,278,469, and the population of the Dakar metropolitan area was at 4.0 mill ...
Dakar
Dakar ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Senegal, largest city of Senegal. The Departments of Senegal, department of Dakar has a population of 1,278,469, and the population of the Dakar metropolitan area was at 4.0 mill ...
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally () or simply "The Dakar" (), formerly known as the Paris–Dakar Rally (), is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). It is an off-road endurance event traversing terrain much tougher than convent ...
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally () or simply "The Dakar" (), formerly known as the Paris–Dakar Rally (), is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). It is an off-road endurance event traversing terrain much tougher than convent ...