History 2000s

2005 Dakar Rally (Spain to Senegal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2005 Dakar Rally (Spain to Senegal)

Date: January 1–16, 2005

Start Location: Barcelona, Spain

Finish Location: Dakar, Senegal

Total Distance: 8,956 km

Competitive Stages: 5,431 km

Surface: Mixed (sand, gravel, rock, dunes, and open desert)

The 2005 Dakar Rally began in Barcelona and wound through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal in a treacherous test of endurance, navigation, and mechanical resilience. Stéphane Peterhansel once again proved why he’s a Dakar legend, leading the field through the dunes and desolation to claim his second win in the car category and seventh overall Dakar victory.

Route

Morocco: Fast gravel roads and mountain transitions — navigation and tire management were critical in early attrition stages.
Mauritania: Endless dune sections and soft sand made vehicle preservation and accurate navigation essential.
Mali: Technical rocky stages and complex bush paths — many favorites suffered breakdowns here.
Senegal: Open savannah and coastal tracks brought a faster pace and dramatic finishes near Dakar’s famous beaches.

This edition of the Dakar featured an immense variety of terrain, from Mediterranean foothills to Atlantic dune fields. Notable highlights included:

While the route avoided some of the most politically unstable zones, it remained punishingly difficult, with high temperatures, dust, and mechanical wear shaping the leaderboard daily.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Stéphane Peterhansel & Jean-Paul Cottret · Mitsubishi Pajero Evo
2nd Place
Luc Alphand & Gilles Picard · Mitsubishi Pajero Evo
3rd Place
Jutta Kleinschmidt & Fabrizia Pons · Volkswagen Touareg

Peterhansel took control in the Mauritanian dunes and never looked back. Alphand delivered a strong second, while Kleinschmidt made history as the first woman on the Dakar car podium in consecutive seasons, bringing Volkswagen their first top-three finish.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Sand Mastery: Mauritania’s dunes caught out many competitors — Peterhansel’s deep experience proved decisive here.
  • Mechanical Preservation: Days of brutal terrain wore down suspensions, differentials, and gearboxes — smart pacing was essential.
  • Heat and Focus: Long, 8+ hour stages tested both driver stamina and navigational precision in featureless terrain.

The 2005 Dakar was a victory of experience, durability, and strategy — and further proof that Stéphane Peterhansel was in a league of his own when it came to rally raid mastery.

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