History 1990s

1999 Granada–Dakar Rally (Spain–Morocco–Mauritania–Burkina Faso–Ivory Coast–Senegal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1999 Granada–Dakar Rally

Date: January 1–17, 1999

Start Location: Granada, Spain

Finish Location: Dakar, Senegal

Total Distance: 9,393 km (full route)

Competitive Stages: 5,638 km

Surface: Mixed — sand, gravel, rocky desert, clay, tarmac liaison

The 1999 Granada–Dakar Rally took competitors through six countries and over 9,000 km of unforgiving terrain. With a return to West Africa and a modified course from Granada to Dakar, this edition was one of the toughest in modern rally-raid history. Veteran Jean-Louis Schlesser, driving his custom-built 2WD Schlesser Buggy, demonstrated exceptional pace and mechanical resilience across the dunes of Mauritania and the savannahs of Burkina Faso, taking overall honors in a rally of attrition and extremes.

Route

Spain (Granada): Brief prologue stages through southern Spain before boarding ferries to Africa.
Morocco: Rocky pistes, steep Atlas climbs, and early navigation trials.
Mauritania: Endless dunes and deep sand traps across the Erg Maqteir and Chinguetti sectors — the most decisive legs of the event.
Burkina Faso & Ivory Coast: Tropical savannah and clay roads, often softened by rains and local flooding.
Senegal: High-speed sprint to Lac Rose near Dakar, following tradition but still requiring vigilance and focus.

The rally featured vastly different landscapes across Europe and Africa, testing both driver and machine to their limits:

This route was among the longest and most varied in Dakar history, combining classic desert endurance with newer technical stages and increased competitive mileage.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Jean-Louis Schlesser & Philippe Monnet · Schlesser Buggy
2nd Place
Hiroshi Masuoka & Pascal Maimon · Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution
3rd Place
Kenjiro Shinozuka & Henri Magne · Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution

Schlesser’s combination of lightweight engineering and high-speed desert capability proved unbeatable, with the rear-wheel-drive buggy outrunning the heavier 4WD field in key dune sections.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Sandstorms: Multiple stages in Mauritania and Mali were affected by visibility-limiting sandstorms, increasing reliance on compass navigation and dead reckoning.
  • Mechanical Endurance: Vehicle cooling, suspension fatigue, and drivetrain failures eliminated many top competitors early.
  • Route Adaptability: Several last-minute course adjustments due to political tension and weather required teams to adapt on the fly.

The 1999 Granada–Dakar was a rally of extremes — blazing dunes, flooded savannahs, and endless liaison miles. Schlesser’s unconventional but brilliant execution proved that with the right vehicle and discipline, speed could beat brute strength across the Sahara.

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