Compromised Internals

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2011 Dakar Rally (33rd running)

Date: January 1–16, 2011

Start/Finish Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina (looping through Argentina & Chile)

Total Distance: Approximately 9,500 km (≈5,000 km of timed special stages)

Participating Teams: 407 vehicles across categories (170 bikes/quads, 140 cars, 67 trucks)

Nasser Al-Attiyah, after years of near-misses, claimed his first Dakar victory, leading a Volkswagen 1–3. Stages across the Andes and Atacama tested navigation, endurance, and mechanical resilience in punishing summer heat.

Route

Atacama Desert: Deep dunes and soft fesh-fesh sand near Copiapó and Iquique.

Andean Passes: High-altitude crossings affecting engine performance and crew stamina.

Argentine Pampas: Fast, open pistes requiring careful navigation.

A demanding trans-Andean loop from Buenos Aires, over the Andes into Chile, and back again.

Mid-event marathon stages required teams to manage without full service assistance.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner

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2nd Place

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3rd Place

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Navigation & Challenges

Dune Navigation: Demanded accurate compass bearings and reading of sand formations.
Altitude Effects: Reduced engine output and crew fatigue at over 4,000 m.
Mechanical Fatigue: Continuous rough terrain tested every component over two weeks.

The 2011 Dakar rewarded patience, consistency, and teamwork as much as outright pace.

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2011 Dakar Rally (Argentina–Chile)