History 1990s

1991–92 Paris–Sirte–Cape Town Rally (Africa)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1991–92 Paris–Sirte–Cape Town Rally

Date: December 25, 1991 – January 16, 1992

Start Location: Paris, France

Finish Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Total Distance: 12,427 km (6,263 km competitive)

Surface: Gravel, sand, and mixed terrain (marathon rally)

Replacing the canceled 1992 Paris–Dakar, the Paris–Sirte–Cape Town Rally was the most ambitious cross-continental raid of its time. The route crossed nine countries and some of Africa’s harshest terrain, including the Libyan desert, Congolese jungle, and Namibian plains. Hubert Auriol, a former motorcycle and car category champion, added to his legend by guiding the Citroën ZX Rallye Raid across more than 12,000 kilometers of punishing navigation and endurance to take a monumental victory.

Route

Libya (Sirte and Sahara): Vast dune fields and rocky plateaus tested both navigation skill and cooling systems.
Chad and CAR: Remote jungle tracks and dry riverbeds—navigation errors here could cost hours.
Congo to Namibia: Alternating between thick vegetation, fesh-fesh dust, and rocky descents—punishing on suspensions.
Namib Desert to Cape Town: Wide open stages with extreme heat and high speeds—final push required perfect preservation strategy.

This marathon event covered vastly diverse landscapes across nine African nations:

Rainstorms, heat exhaustion, and mechanical failure thinned the ranks, but Citroën’s calculated pace kept them well ahead of trouble throughout the rally.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Hubert Auriol & Philippe Monnet · Citroën ZX Rallye Raid
2nd Place
Pierre Lartigue & Michel Périn · Citroën ZX Rallye Raid
3rd Place
Bruno Saby & Jean-Paul Chiaroni · Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution

Auriol’s win reaffirmed his reputation as a master of marathon rallies—balancing speed with survivability over nearly three weeks of relentless competition.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Multi-national Navigation: Route books spanned varied geography, borders, and communication zones—minor missteps were costly.
  • Mechanical Preservation: Suspension damage, electrical faults, and tire fatigue plagued competitors daily—Auriol's team strategy minimized exposure.
  • Health and Endurance: Teams faced dehydration, sleep loss, and illness—mental and physical fatigue were near constant over the three-week journey.

The 1991–92 Paris–Sirte–Cape Town Rally was a modern epic—Hubert Auriol’s victory was one of precision, pacing, and survival over speed alone.

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