History 1980s

1988 Paris–Dakar Rally (France–Algeria–Niger–Chad–CAR–Sudan–Mali–Senegal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1988 Paris–Dakar Rally (France–Algeria–Niger–Chad–CAR–Sudan–Mali–Senegal)

Date: January 1–22, 1988

Start Location: Paris, France

Finish Location: Dakar, Senegal

Total Distance: ~13,000 km (total route)

Surface: Gravel, sand, and desert terrain

The 1988 Paris–Dakar Rally was the longest and one of the most complex routes in the event’s history, traversing eight countries and a vast range of hostile environments. Juha Kankkunen, better known for his WRC successes, took on the desert in Peugeot’s monstrous 205 T16 Grand Raid. With co-driver Fred Gallagher, Kankkunen pushed through massive sand dunes, political tensions, and brutal navigation challenges to earn his first and only Dakar victory.

Route

France to Algeria: The European start transitioned quickly into vast desert plains in North Africa.
Niger, Chad, CAR: Remote and lawless regions with deep dunes, broken tracks, and intense navigation hazards.
Sudan to Mali: Harsh heat and scarce water sources tested the crews physically as much as mechanically.
Final Run to Dakar: Rolling Sahel terrain turned into coastal sands for the traditional finish at Lac Rose.

The 1988 edition included one of the most ambitious and politically complex Dakar routes ever run:

This year’s route was notorious for diplomatic issues, border delays, and security threats—only adding to the challenge of already punishing terrain.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Juha Kankkunen & Fred Gallagher · Peugeot 205 T16 Grand Raid
2nd Place
Ari Vatanen & Bruno Berglund · Peugeot 205 T16 Grand Raid
3rd Place
Patrick Tambay & Dominique Lemoyne · Peugeot 205 T16 Grand Raid

Peugeot locked out the podium, but Kankkunen stood atop—his precise, calm approach brought WRC expertise to the world’s toughest endurance rally.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Political Turmoil: Several stages were rerouted due to armed conflict or border disputes—flexibility and calm decision-making were crucial.
  • Sand and Dunes: Constant variations in terrain required perfect throttle control and tire deflation techniques.
  • Mechanical Preservation: Drivers had to balance stage pace with the need to protect vital components across thousands of kilometers.

Kankkunen’s 1988 Dakar victory blended tactical awareness, WRC speed, and desert resilience—marking one of the most complete performances in cross-country rallying history.

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