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1979 Paris–Dakar Rally

Off-road motorsport event in France and Africa


Off-road motorsport event in France and Africa

FieldValue
name1979 Dakar Rally
next_round1980 Paris–Dakar Rally
country
imageParis - Dakar route (1979) ru.svg
captionThe route
stagekm_note
overallkm_note
category1Cars
driver1FRA Alain Génestier
team1Range Rover
category2Bikes
driver2FRA Cyril Neveu
team2Yamaha XT500

1979 Dakar Rally, also known as the 1979 Paris–Alger–Dakar Rally was the first running of the Dakar Rally event. The rally began on 26 December 1978 from Paris, France and finished on 14 January 1979 in Dakar, Senegal, interrupted by a transfer across the Mediterranean. Cyril Neveu won the motorcycle category on a Yamaha, while the car category was won by Alain Génestier in a Range Rover.

Summary

A total of 182 competitors (80 cars, 90 motorcycles and 12 trucks ) contested the inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally, departing the Place du Trocadéro on Boxing Day 1978 to embark upon a 10,000 kilometre journey to the Senegalese capital of Dakar via Algeria, Niger, Mali and Upper Volta. All the vehicles that took part were classified together, although they would compete separately in subsequent editions of the race.

Cyril Neveu won the rally aboard a Yamaha despite not winning any individual stages, taking the lead on the sixth stage after Patrick Schaal (Yamaha) fell and fractured his little finger. Jean-Claude Morellet, competing under the alias of "Fenouil", had been running second until he was forced to retire as his BMW suffered engine failure with less than 200 km of the rally left to run. That promoted Gilles Comte (Yamaha) to second and Philippe Vassard (Honda), the only competitor to complete the Bamako-Nioro stage in the originally allotted time before it was extended, to third.

Alain Génestier's Range Rover was the best of the cars in fourth, ahead of the Renault 4 of the Marreau brothers. Neveu's brother Christophe had led early on in the rally after winning two of the first three stages in his Range Rover, but got lost on the stage between Arlit and Agadez along with around a quarter of the remaining competitors.

Entry list

Number of entries

StageBikesCarsTrucksTotal
**Start of Rally**908012182
**End of Rally**3437374

Competitor list

No.DriverBike
1FRA Corinne KoppenhagueSuzuki SP 370
2FRA Gilles ComteYamaha XT 500
3FRA Christian RayerYamaha XT 500
4FRA Rudy PotisekYamaha XT 500
5FRA Jean-Claude OlivierYamaha XT 500
6FRA Jean-Claude Morellet aka 'Fenouil'BMW 800 GS
7FRA Dominique MartinYamaha XT 500
8FRA Patrick SchaalYamaha XT 500
9FRA Dominique SauvetreYamaha XT 500
10FRA Thierry PascaultYamaha XT 500
11FRA Yves BonYamaha XT 500
12FRA Cyril NeveuYamaha XT 500
13FRA Patrick BeaufrontYamaha XT 500
14FRA Yannick Le GuyaderYamaha XT 500
15FRA Christian DesnoyerHonda XL 250S
16FRA Jean-pierre Dos ReisHonda XL 250S
17FRA Patrice TaravellaHonda XL 250S
18FRA Pierre MengueYamaha XT 500
19FRA Grégoire VerhaegheHonda XL 125S
20FRA Patrick HarmandHonda XL 250S
21FRA Bernard NeimerHonda XL 250S
22FRA Bruno DusiHonda XL 250S
23FRA Philippe VassardHonda XL 250S
24FRA Jean-louis DespagneYamaha XT 500
25FRA Bernard MoraYamaha XT 500
26FRA Henri GabrelleHonda XL 250S
27FRA Gilles DesheullesHonda XL 250S
28FRA Max CommençalYamaha XT 500
29FRA Marie ErtaudYamaha XT 500
30FRA Michel MontangeHonda XL 250S
31SUI Willi SteinerYamaha XT 500
32FRA Bruno VecchioniHonda XL 250S
33FRA Alain QuieHonda XL 125S
34FRA Bernard AtanneHonda XL 250S
35FRA Olivier KirkpatrickYamaha XT 500
36FRA Bruno Dubois-TrabucYamaha XT 500
39FRA Christian PaulHonda XL 250S
40FRA Jean VanesteYamaha XT 500
41FRA Martine de CortanzeHonda XL 250S
42FRA Pascale GeurieHonda XL 250S
43FRA Christine MartinHonda XL 250S
44FRA Marie-Dominique CousinYamaha XT 500
45FRA Pierre DavidMZ 250
46FRA Jean-Noël CastanetHonda XL 250S
47FRA Daniel PitonKawasaki KL 250
48FRA Jacques MicallefYamaha XT 500
49FRA Luc OffensteinYamaha XT 500
50FRA Michel PoncetHonda XL 250S
51FRA Pierre BaninoYamaha XT 500
52FRA Alain SchaechtHonda XL 250S
53FRA Pierre SchrickeSuzuki TS125
54FRA Bernard GautierHonda XL 250S
55FRA Alain MartinHonda XL 250S
56FRA Eric MalotYamaha XT 500
57FRA Thierry RogheHonda XL 250S
58FRA Eric PopineauHonda XL 250S
59FRA Michel RazetHonda XL 250S
60FRA Jean-Pierre TonnellineHonda XL 250S
61FRA Paul-Eric AllardSuzuki TS125
62FRA Alain VialSuzuki SP 370
64FRA Laurent GomisSuzuki SP 370
65FRA Hubert AuriolYamaha XT 500
66FRA Philippe JambertBMW R65
67FRA Jean-François ChanéacHonda XL 250S
68FRA Didier BoucherYamaha XT 500
69FRA Alain GaeremynckSuzuki SP 370
70BEL Alain PadouHonda XL 250S
71FRA Yannik LengletHonda XL 250S
72FRA Guy LeconteYamaha XT 500
73FRA Jacques MaitrotHonda XL 250S
74FRA Guy AlbaretYamaha XT 500
75FRA Patrick MezianiYamaha XT 500
76FRA Pierre BertyYamaha XT 500
77FRA Jean-pierre PachoudYamaha XT 500
78FRA Patrice DodinYamaha XT 500
79FRA Patrick DebuireYamaha XT 500
81FRA Serge DumolinYamaha XT 500
82FRA Lionel RousseauYamaha XT 500
83FRA Bernard RigoniGuzzi TT 500
84FRA Alain PiatekGuzzi TT 500
85FRA Alain LegrandGuzzi TT 500
86FRA Eric BretonGuzzi TT 500
88FRA Martine RenierGuzzi TT 500
94FRA Alain BardYamaha XT 500
No.DriverCo-driverCo-driver 2/TechnicianVehicle
100MON Hubert RigalFRA Dominique Rochette-Range Rover V8
101FRA Maurice CalamelFRA Michel Calamel-Land Rover
102FRA Bernard HervierFRA Christian Caillon-Range Rover V8
103FRA Daniel NollanFRA Philippe HayatFRA Jean-Pierre DomblidesRenault KZ
104FRA Jean-François PiotFRA Pierre RauxFRA Jean-Pierre BoulmeToyota BJ
105FRA Bernard MaingretFRA Christian Maingret-Mercedes-Benz Unimog
106FRA Max HuguenyFRA Bernard Trévidic-Toyota Diesel
107FRA Christian DuboscqFRA Pierre-Emmanuel Froissart-Lada Niva
108FRA Gérard MairFRA Georges Vanelslande-Ford Transit
109FRA Stéphan BosteelsFRA Stéphane Bosteels-Citroën GS
110FRA François ForestierFRA Philippe Meneau-Toyota BJ
111FRA Pierre DagouryFRA Bertrand Tournier-Lada Niva
112FRA Claude NeveuFRA Gary CarreraFRA Gilles MauriceToyota BJ
113FRA Jean-Michel BordaisFRA Marcel Quie-Range Rover V8
114FRA Philippe LerouxFRA Gilbert Pozzo di Borgo-Toyota BJ
115FRA Jean-Louis FigureauFRA Jean-Paul Ydraut-Peugeot 504
116FRA André PiguetFRA Philippe D'AgostinoFRA François JacquinCitroën DS
117FRA Bernard LemonnierFRA Jacqueline Lemonnier-Toyota Diesel
118FRA Pierre ChamagneFRA Raymond Thérage-Peugeot 504
119FRA Philippe TiercinFRA Michel Gadeaud-Citroën CX
120FRA Christophe NeveuFRA Gilles Gaignault-Range Rover V8
121FRA Michel DelannoyFRA Frédéric Harrewyn-Toyota Diesel
122SUI Enrico PaciUnknown-Jeep Wagoneer
123BEL Edi-Paul HeinisBEL Pierre Heinis-Volkswagen 1300
124FRA François JacquetUnknown-Land Rover
125FRA Guy ChambilyFRA Michel Desaunay-Toyota BJ
126FRA Claude RenaultFRA Jacques Cholet-Lada Niva
127FRA Pierre BouilleFRA Gilles Morel-Renault 5
128FRA Chantal ComteFRA Christiane van Ryswyck-Volkswagen 181
129FRA Yves SunhillFRA Jean-Paul Sevin-Buggy Sunhill
130FRA Pierre-Louis MoreauFRA Jean-Yves Touya-Peugeot 504
131FRA Claude MarreauFRA Bernard Marreau-Renault 4 Sinpar
132FRA Pierre MinonzioFRA Jean-Louis Ledentu-Lada Niva
133FRA Henri MourenFRA Henri Braquet-Toyota BJ
134FRA Alain VandekerkhoveFRA Daniel PichotFRA Gérard DutertryToyota BJ
135FRA Dominique FougerouseBEL Christine BeckersFRA Marguerite OndartsToyota BJ
136FRA Pierre FougerouseFRA Anne-Marie de Belabre-Toyota BJ
137FRA Patrick BarbierFRA Jean-Louis DieudeFRA Michel HardyRange Rover V8
138FRA Gérard SarrazinFRA Lucette Sarrazin-Range Rover V8
139FRA Philippe CatelFRA Anne Catel-Range Rover V8
140ITA Agostino TocciITA Carlo Fucci-Fiat Campagnola
141ITA Tommaso CarlettiITA Amarilli Carletti-Fiat Campagnola
142ITA Franco ArbizziITA Giovanni Crappolo-Fiat Campagnola
143ITA Cesare GiraudoITA Antonio CavalleriITA Mario CavalleriFiat Campagnola
144UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
145UnknownUnknownUnknownFiat Campagnola
146UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
147UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
148FRA Françoise RayerFRA Chantal Gauche-Lada Niva
149FRA Jacky LeguyFRA Michel Beaujean-Mercedes-Benz Unimog
150FRA Jean-Jacques RatetFRA Robert Ignazi-Toyota BJ
151FRA Jean-Claude LeclercFRA Christian Crye-Toyota BJ
152BEL Franz DeladriereBEL Pierre DeghayeBEL Françoise DeghayeMercedes-Benz Unimog
153BEL Guy DeladriereFRA Franz Deladriere-Buggy Strakit
155FRA Marcel HuguenyFRA Patrick Chapuis-Toyota BJ
156FRA Jacky PrivéFRA Reynald Privé-Range Rover V8
157FRA Dominique FondrillonFRA Marcel Schaecht-Toyota BJ
158FRA Frédéric GayetFRA Annie Benard-Buggy
159FRA Michel EtcheparFRA Gérard Loupias-Mercedes-Benz Unimog
160FRA Francis HumblotFRA Jean-Claude Lombard-Toyota BJ
161FRA Laurent BacholleFRA Canut-Toyota BJ
162FRA Alain GénestierFRA Joseph TerbiautFRA Jean LemordantRange Rover V8
163FRA Jean-François SaussetFRA Pierre Le Monnier-Renault 4
164FRA Olivier TurcatFRA Dominique de Araujo-Cournil
165FRA Marc AndréFRA Philippe Puyfoulhoux-Peugeot 404 Plateu
166FRA Jean Dominique ClémentFRA Anne Clément-Land Rover
167FRA Christian SandronFRA Philippe Alberto-Citroën Dyane
168FRA René MetgeFRA Claude Barbier-Range Rover V8
169FRA Georges HouelFRA Christian Pouchelon-Renault 30
170FRA Gil GuillotFRA Patrice Pradeau-Cournil
171FRA Philippe ChapelFRA SannierFRA Yves BellevilleRange Rover V8
172FRA Jean-Pierre KurrerFRA Jean-Claude Henriet-Cournil
173FRA Gérard DorangeonFRA Bernard Preschey-Renault 5
174FRA Michel PurenFRA Pierre Dumas-Range Rover V8
175FRA René BaninoFRA Henri Legourriérec-Toyota BJ
176FRA Claude SezaloryFRA Diven CasariniFRA De FrémontToyota BJ
177FRA Eric VuilleminFRA Daniel Adrian-Peugeot 404 Plateu
178FRA Dominique BertrandFRA Thierry De SaulieuFRA Claude PrévostFiat Campagnola
179FRA Christian De CortanzeFRA Pierre Rigal-Fiat Campagnola
180FRA Jean-François DunacFRA François BeauFRA Jean-Pierre ChapelPinzgauer 6X6
181FRA Michel PignotFRA Jean-Claude Marie-Saviem SM8
182FRA Max MeynierFRA Francis ZegutFRA Christian BoudasToyota FJ40
183FRA Philippe HroudaFRA Marie-Josée PerezFRA Nicole ChastenetPeugeot 504 Break
184FRA Jacky HaasFRA Elisabeth TrebuchetFRA Henri PoulainRenault 12 Break
185FRA Gérard BouvierFRA Gérard CeolinFRA Odile RosanvalPeugeot 504 Break
186FRA Guy DreumontFRA Serge Rafal-Peugeot 504 Break
187FRA Alain MekkiFRA Jean Neault-Unic
188FRA Joseph De QueckerFRA Jean-Pierre DufourFRA François-Xavier BeaudetToyota BJ
189FRA Christian RodierFRA BourdexFRA FabreMercedes-Benz Unimog
190FRA Bernard GuengantFRA Christian van RyswyckFRA Gabriel SivalyRange Rover V8
191FRA Michel van GorpFRA Dominique Pipat-Toyota BJ
192FRA Daniel PetitFRA Françis Mare-Unic
193FRA Christian LacombeFRA Catherine de MesmaekerFRA Georges RenouToyota BJ
194FRA Benoît ChavaneFRA Alain Corroler-Talbot Rancho
195FRA William MazoyerUnknown-Saviem TP3
196FRA Pierre DevauxFRA Jean-Louis MalvoisinFRA Roland DigaldiUnic
199UnknownMeppielJardinMercedes-Benz
200FRA Thierry SabineFRA Daniel Lentaigne-Toyota BJ

Source:

Stages

StageDateFromToDist.Winner (cars)Winner (bikes)12345678
26 December 1978France ParisFrance Montlhéry3.6FRA C. NeveuFRA C. Desnoyers
27 December 1978France MontlhéryFrance Marseille*Liaison only*
28–30 December 1978*Transportation to Africa*
31 December 1978Algeria AlgiersAlgeria Reggane*Liaison only*
1 January 1979Algeria RegganeAlgeria In Salah270FRA J. PrivéFRA C. Rayer
2 January 1979Algeria In SalahAlgeria Tamanrasset*Liaison only*
3 January 1979Algeria TamanrassetAlgeria In Guezzam373FRA C. NeveuFRA R. Potisek
4 January 1979Niger AssamakaNiger Arlit230FRA G. DaurangeonFRA P. Schaal
5 January 1979Niger ArlitNiger Agadez231FRA P-L. MoreauFRA J-C. Olivier
6 January 1979Niger AgadezNiger Niamey230FRA C. MarreauFRA J-C. Olivier
7 January 1979Niger NiameyMali Gao448*Stage cancelled*
8 January 1979Mali Gao*Rest day*
9 January 1979Mali GaoMali Mopti600FRA A. GénestierFRA G. Comte
10 January 1979Mali MoptiMali Bamako*Liaison only*
11 January 1979Mali BamakoMali Nioro du Sahel417ITA C. GiraudoFRA P. Vassard
12 January 1979Mali Nioro du SahelMali Kayes270*None declared*FRA C. Rayer
13 January 1979Mali KayesSenegal Bakel*Liaison only*
14 January 1979Senegal BakelSenegal Dakar96MON H. RigalFRA G. Comte
  • The above distances (in kilometres) refer only to the competitive timed part of the stage, which make up 3,168 km.

Results

Source:

Final standings (positions 1–10)Pos.No.Competitor(s)VehicleClass12345678910
12FRA Cyril NeveuYamaha XT 500Moto
2FRA Gilles ComteYamaha XT 500Moto
23FRA Philippe VassardHonda XL 250SMoto
162FRA Alain Génestier
FRA Joseph Terbiaut
FRA Jean LemordantRange Rover V8Auto
131FRA Claude Marreau
FRA Bernard MarreauRenault 4 SinparAuto
52FRA Alain SchaechtHonda XL 250SMoto
143ITA Cesare Giraudo
ITA Antonio Cavalleri
ITA Mario CavalleriFiat CampagnolaAuto
3FRA Christian RayerYamaha XT 500Moto
141ITA Tommaso Carletti
ITA Amarilli CarlettiFiat CampagnolaAuto
134FRA Alain Vandekerkhove
FRAGérard Dutertry
FRA Daniel PichotToyota BJAuto
Final standings (positions 11–74)Pos.No.Competitor(s)VehicleClass11121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859606162636465666768697071727374
73FRA Jacques MaitrotHonda XL 250SMoto
65FRA Hubert AuriolYamaha XT 500Moto
21FRA Bernard NeimerHonda XL 250SMoto
34FRA Bernard AtanneHonda XL 250SMoto
64FRA Laurent GomisSuzuki SP 370Moto
100MON Hubert Rigal
FRA Dominique RochetteRange Rover V8Auto
140ITA Agostino Tocci
ITA Carlo FucciFiat CampagnolaAuto
125FRA Guy Chambily
FRA Michel DesaunayToyota BJAuto
41FRA Martine de CortanzeHonda XL 250SMoto
16FRA Jean Pierre Dos ReisHonda XL 250SMoto
74FRA Guy AlbaretYamaha XT 500Moto
70BEL Alain PadouHonda XL 250SMoto
150FRA Jean-Jacques Ratet
FRA Robert IgnaziToyota BJAuto
55FRA Alain MartinHonda XL 250SMoto
139FRA Philippe Catel
FRA Anne CatelRange Rover V8Auto
121FRA Michel Delannoy
FRA Frédéric HarrewynToyota DieselAuto
133FRA Henri Mouren
FRA Henri BraquetToyota BJAuto
132FRA Pierre Minonzio
FRA Jean-Louis LedentuLada NivaAuto
26FRA Henri GabrelleHonda XL 250SMoto
58FRA Eric PopineauHonda XL 250SMoto
142ITA Franco Arbizzi
ITA Giovanni CrappoloFiat CampagnolaAuto
17FRA Patrice TaravellaHonda XL 250SMoto
76FRA Pierre BertyYamaha XT 500Moto
29FRA Marie ErtaudYamaha XT 500Moto
13FRA Patrick BeaufrontYamaha XT 500Moto
54FRA Bernard GautierHonda XL 250SMoto
112FRA Claude Neveu
FRA Gary Carrera
FRA Gilles MauriceToyota BJAuto
11FRA Yves BonYamaha XT 500Moto
47FRA Daniel PitonKawasaki KL 250Moto
68FRA Didier BoucherYamaha XT 500Moto
135FRA Dominique Fougerouse
BEL Christine Beckers
FRA Marguerite OndartsToyota BJAuto
107FRA Christian Duboscq
FRA Pierre-Emmanuel FroissartLada NivaAuto
10FRA Thierry PascaultYamaha XT 500Moto
180FRA Jean-François Dunac
FRA François Beau
FRA Jean-Pierre ChapelPinzgauer 6X6Trucks
42FRA Pascale GeurieHonda XL 250SMoto
18FRA Pierre MengueYamaha XT 500Moto
113FRA Jean-Michel Bordais
FRA Marcel QuieRange Rover V8Auto
83FRA Bernard RigoniGuzzi TT 500Moto
110FRA François Forestier
FRA Philippe MeneauToyota BJAuto
62FRA Alain VialSuzuki SP 370Moto
172FRA Jean-Pierre Kurrer
FRA Jean-Claude HenrietCournilAuto
176FRA Claude Sezalory
FRA Diven Casarini
FRA De FrémontToyota BJAuto
117FRA Bernard Lemonnier
FRA Jacqueline LemonnierToyota DieselAuto
138FRA Gérard Sarrazin
FRA Lucette SarrazinRange Rover V8Auto
157FRA Dominique Fondrillon
FRA Marcel SchaechtToyota BJAuto
106FRA Max Hugueny
FRA Bernard TrévidicToyota DieselAuto
104FRA Jean-François Piot
FRA Pierre Raux
FRA Jean-Pierre BoulmeToyota BJAuto
28FRA Max CommençalYamaha XT 500Moto
192FRA Daniel Petit
FRA Françis MareUnicTrucks
101FRA Maurice Calamel
FRA Michel CalamelLand RoverAuto
175FRA René Banino
FRA Henri LegourriérecToyota BJAuto
166FRA Jean Dominique Clément
FRA Anne ClémentLand RoverAuto
72FRA Guy LeconteYamaha XT 500Moto
57FRA Thierry RogheHonda XL 250SMoto
19FRA Grégoire VerhaegheHonda XL 125SMoto
171FRA Philippe Chapel
FRA Sannier
FRA Yves BellevilleRange Rover V8Auto
174FRA Michel Puren
FRA Pierre DumasRange Rover V8Auto
170FRA Gil Guillot
FRA Patrice PradeauCournilAuto
164FRA Olivier Turcat
FRA Dominique de AraujoCournilAuto
118FRA Pierre Chamagne
FRA Raymond ThéragePeugeot 504Auto
103FRA Daniel Nollan
FRA Philippe Hayat
FRA Jean-Pierre DomblidesRenault KZAuto
187FRA Alain Mekki
FRA Jean NeaultUnicTrucks
165FRA Marc André
FRA Philippe PuyfoulhouxPeugeot 404 PlateuAuto
127FRA Pierre Bouille
FRA Gilles MorelRenault 5Auto

References

References

  1. "History of Dakar - RETROSPECTIVE 1979-2007". Dakar.
  2. "Christophe Neveu".
  3. "Dakar Historic Book 2024".
  4. "Paris-Dakar 1979 - Classification".
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