History 1990s

1997 Dakar–Dakar Rally (Senegal–Mali–Niger–Mali–Mauritania–Guinea–Senegal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1997 Dakar–Dakar Rally

Date: January 4–19, 1997

Start Location: Dakar, Senegal

Finish Location: Dakar, Senegal

Total Distance: 8,049 km (6,509 km competitive)

Surface: Mixed (sand, gravel, rocky desert, dunes)

The 1997 edition of the Dakar Rally followed a looping route across West Africa, departing from and returning to Dakar. The rally demanded absolute resilience and mechanical durability, covering over 8,000 kilometers of punishing desert terrain across seven countries. Kenjiro Shinozuka, partnered with Claude Marreau, navigated the brutal course with precision and endurance to deliver Mitsubishi its sixth Dakar win — and the first ever for a Japanese driver.

Route

Senegal to Mali: Early gravel and bush tracks transitioned into wide savannahs, setting the pace for early shakeups.
Mali to Niger: Technical navigation challenges emerged in rocky deserts and riverbeds.
Tenéré Desert (Niger): One of the toughest sections, featuring endless dunes and soft sand requiring constant throttle control.
Guinea Stages: Unexpected tropical storms turned dirt tracks into muddy traps, making for chaotic stage results.
Return via Mauritania: Windswept dunes and long liaison sections tested both physical and mechanical stamina.

Traversing some of the harshest environments in West Africa, the route passed through:

The constant changes in terrain and climate meant teams had to adapt daily, from extreme heat in the dunes to unpredictable storms in the Guinean highlands.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Kenjiro Shinozuka & Claude Marreau · Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution
2nd Place
Jean-Pierre Fontenay & Gilles Picard · Mitsubishi Pajero
3rd Place
Bruno Saby & Michel Périn · Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi’s dominance continued with a complete podium sweep, and Shinozuka's historic win marked a major milestone for Asian motorsport in global rally raids.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Dune Mastery: Deep Sahara dunes in Niger and Mauritania demanded expert throttle modulation and constant momentum to avoid getting stuck.
  • Mechanical Survival: The extended stages punished engines, suspensions, and transmissions — many competitors retired from attrition alone.
  • Weather Extremes: Riders and crews faced searing heat, blinding sandstorms, and sudden tropical downpours within days of each other.

The 1997 Dakar–Dakar Rally tested the limits of man and machine, and Kenjiro Shinozuka’s landmark victory remains one of the most significant wins in the event’s storied history.

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