1979 Paris–Dakar Rally

1979 Dakar Rally, also known as the 1979 Paris–Alger–Dakar Rally was the first running of the Dakar Rally event. The rally began on 26 December 1978 from Paris, France and finished on 14 January 1979 in Dakar, Senegal, interrupted by a transfer across the Mediterranean. Cyril Neveu won the motorcycle category on a Yamaha, while the car category was won by Alain Génestier in a Range Rover.[1]

1979 Dakar Rally
Next event 
The route
Host country France
 Algeria
 Niger
 Mali
 Senegal
Results
Cars winner Alain Génestier
Range Rover
Bikes winner Cyril Neveu
Yamaha XT500
Trucks winner Jean-François Dunac
Pinzgauer

Summary

182 competitors (80 cars, 90 motorcycles and 12 trucks [1]) contested the inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally, departing the Place du Trocadéro on Boxing Day 1978 to embark upon a 10,000 kilometre journey to the Senegalese capital of Dakar via Algeria, Niger, Mali and Upper Volta. All the vehicles that took part were classified together, although they would compete separately in subsequent editions of the race.

Cyril Neveu won the rally aboard a Yamaha despite not winning any individual stages, taking the lead on the sixth stage after Patrick Schaal (Yamaha) fell and fractured his little finger.[1] Jean-Claude Morellet, competing under the alias of "Fenouil", had been running second until he was forced to retire as his BMW suffered engine failure with less than 200 km of the rally left to run. That promoted Gilles Comte (Yamaha) to second and Philippe Vassard (Honda), the only competitor to complete the Bamako-Nioro stage in the originally allotted time before it was extended, to third.[1]

Alain Génestier's Range Rover was the best of the cars in fourth, ahead of the Renault 4 of the Marreau brothers. Neveu's brother Christophe had led early on in the rally after winning two of the first three stages in his Range Rover, but got lost on the stage between Arlit and Agadez along with around a quarter of the remaining competitors.[2]

Entry list

Source[3]

Number of entries

Stage Bikes Cars Trucks Total
Start of Rally908012182
End of Rally3437374

Competitor list

Entry list — Bikes
No. Driver Bike
1 Corinne KoppenhagueSuzuki SP 370
2 Gilles ComteYamaha XT 500
3 Christian RayerYamaha XT 500
4 Rudy PotisekYamaha XT 500
5 Jean-Claude OlivierYamaha XT 500
6 Jean-Claude Morellet aka 'Fenouil'BMW 800 GS
7 Dominique MartinYamaha XT 500
8 Patrick SchaalYamaha XT 500
9 Dominique SauvetreYamaha XT 500
10 Thierry PascaultYamaha XT 500
11 Yves BonYamaha XT 500
12 Cyril NeveuYamaha XT 500
13 Patrick BeaufrontYamaha XT 500
14 Yannick Le GuyaderYamaha XT 500
15 Christian DesnoyerHonda XL 250S
16 Jean-pierre Dos ReisHonda XL 250S
17 Patrice TaravellaHonda XL 250S
18 Pierre MengueYamaha XT 500
19 Grégoire VerhaegheHonda XL 125S
20 Patrick HarmandHonda XL 250S
21 Bernard NeimerHonda XL 250S
22 Bruno DusiHonda XL 250S
23 Philippe VassardHonda XL 250S
24 Jean-louis DespagneYamaha XT 500
25 Bernard MoraYamaha XT 500
26 Henri GabrelleHonda XL 250S
27 Gilles DesheullesHonda XL 250S
28 Max CommençalYamaha XT 500
29 Marie ErtaudYamaha XT 500
30 Michel MontangeHonda XL 250S
31 Willi SteinerYamaha XT 500
32 Bruno VecchioniHonda XL 250S
33 Alain QuieHonda XL 125S
34 Bernard AtanneHonda XL 250S
35 Olivier KirkpatrickYamaha XT 500
36 Bruno Dubois-TrabucYamaha XT 500
39 Christian PaulHonda XL 250S
40 Jean VanesteYamaha XT 500
41 Martine de CortanzeHonda XL 250S
42 Pascale GeurieHonda XL 250S
43 Christine MartinHonda XL 250S
44 Marie-Dominique CousinYamaha XT 500
45 Pierre DavidMZ 250
46 Jean-Noël CastanetHonda XL 250S
47 Daniel PitonKawasaki KL 250
48 Jacques MicallefYamaha XT 500
49 Luc OffensteinYamaha XT 500
50 Michel PoncetHonda XL 250S
51 Pierre BaninoYamaha XT 500
52 Alain SchaechtHonda XL 250S
53 Pierre SchrickeSuzuki TS125
54 Bernard GautierHonda XL 250S
55 Alain MartinHonda XL 250S
56 Eric MalotYamaha XT 500
57 Thierry RogheHonda XL 250S
58 Eric PopineauHonda XL 250S
59 Michel RazetHonda XL 250S
60 Jean-Pierre TonnellineHonda XL 250S
61 Paul-Eric AllardSuzuki TS125
62 Alain VialSuzuki SP 370
64 Laurent GomisSuzuki SP 370
65 Hubert AuriolYamaha XT 500
66 Philippe JambertBMW R65
67 Jean-François ChanéacHonda XL 250S
68 Didier BoucherYamaha XT 500
69 Alain GaeremynckSuzuki SP 370
70 Alain PadouHonda XL 250S
71 Yannik LengletHonda XL 250S
72 Guy LeconteYamaha XT 500
73 Jacques MaitrotHonda XL 250S
74 Guy AlbaretYamaha XT 500
75 Patrick MezianiYamaha XT 500
76 Pierre BertyYamaha XT 500
77 Jean-pierre PachoudYamaha XT 500
78 Patrice DodinYamaha XT 500
79 Patrick DebuireYamaha XT 500
81 Serge DumolinYamaha XT 500
82 Lionel RousseauYamaha XT 500
83 Bernard RigoniGuzzi TT 500
84 Alain PiatekGuzzi TT 500
85 Alain LegrandGuzzi TT 500
86 Eric BretonGuzzi TT 500
88 Martine RenierGuzzi TT 500
94 Alain BardYamaha XT 500
Entry list — Cars/Trucks
No. Driver Co-driver Co-driver 2/Technician Vehicle
100 Hubert Rigal Dominique Rochette-Range Rover V8
101 Maurice Calamel Michel Calamel-Land Rover
102 Bernard Hervier Christian Caillon-Range Rover V8
103 Daniel Nollan Philippe Hayat Jean-Pierre DomblidesRenault KZ
104 Jean-François Piot Pierre Raux Jean-Pierre BoulmeToyota BJ
105 Bernard Maingret Christian Maingret-Mercedes-Benz Unimog
106 Max Hugueny Bernard Trévidic-Toyota Diesel
107 Christian Duboscq Pierre-Emmanuel Froissart-Lada Niva
108 Gérard Mair Georges Vanelslande-Ford Transit
109 Stéphan Bosteels Stéphane Bosteels-Citroën GS
110 François Forestier Philippe Meneau-Toyota BJ
111 Pierre Dagoury Bertrand Tournier-Lada Niva
112 Claude Neveu Gary Carrera Gilles MauriceToyota BJ
113 Jean-Michel Bordais Marcel Quie-Range Rover V8
114 Philippe Leroux Gilbert Pozzo di Borgo-Toyota BJ
115 Jean-Louis Figureau Jean-Paul Ydraut-Peugeot 504
116 André Piguet Philippe D'Agostino François JacquinCitroën DS
117 Bernard Lemonnier Jacqueline Lemonnier-Toyota Diesel
118 Pierre Chamagne Raymond Thérage-Peugeot 504
119 Philippe Tiercin Michel Gadeaud-Citroën CX
120 Christophe Neveu Gilles Gaignault-Range Rover V8
121 Michel Delannoy Frédéric Harrewyn-Toyota Diesel
122 Enrico PaciUnknown-Jeep Wagoneer
123 Edi-Paul Heinis Pierre Heinis-Volkswagen 1300
124 François JacquetUnknown-Land Rover
125 Guy Chambily Michel Desaunay-Toyota BJ
126 Claude Renault Jacques Cholet-Lada Niva
127 Pierre Bouille Gilles Morel-Renault 5
128 Chantal Comte Christiane van Ryswyck-Volkswagen 181
129 Yves Sunhill Jean-Paul Sevin-Buggy Sunhill
130 Pierre-Louis Moreau Jean-Yves Touya-Peugeot 504
131 Claude Marreau Bernard Marreau-Renault 4 Sinpar
132 Pierre Minonzio Jean-Louis Ledentu-Lada Niva
133 Henri Mouren Henri Braquet-Toyota BJ
134 Alain Vandekerkhove Daniel Pichot Gérard DutertryToyota BJ
135 Dominique Fougerouse Christine Beckers Marguerite OndartsToyota BJ
136 Pierre Fougerouse Anne-Marie de Belabre-Toyota BJ
137 Patrick Barbier Jean-Louis Dieude Michel HardyRange Rover V8
138 Gérard Sarrazin Lucette Sarrazin-Range Rover V8
139 Philippe Catel Anne Catel-Range Rover V8
140 Agostino Tocci Carlo Fucci-Fiat Campagnola
141 Tommaso Carletti Amarilli Carletti-Fiat Campagnola
142 Franco Arbizzi Giovanni Crappolo-Fiat Campagnola
143 Cesare Giraudo Antonio Cavalleri Mario CavalleriFiat Campagnola
144UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
145UnknownUnknownUnknownFiat Campagnola
146UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
147UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
148 Françoise Rayer Chantal Gauche-Lada Niva
149 Jacky Leguy Michel Beaujean-Mercedes-Benz Unimog
150 Jean-Jacques Ratet Robert Ignazi-Toyota BJ
151 Jean-Claude Leclerc Christian Crye-Toyota BJ
152 Franz Deladriere Pierre Deghaye Françoise DeghayeMercedes-Benz Unimog
153 Guy Deladriere Franz Deladriere-Buggy Strakit
155 Marcel Hugueny Patrick Chapuis-Toyota BJ
156 Jacky Privé Reynald Privé-Range Rover V8
157 Dominique Fondrillon Marcel Schaecht-Toyota BJ
158 Frédéric Gayet Annie Benard-Buggy
159 Michel Etchepar Gérard Loupias-Mercedes-Benz Unimog
160 Francis Humblot Jean-Claude Lombard-Toyota BJ
161 Laurent Bacholle Canut-Toyota BJ
162 Alain Génestier Joseph Terbiaut Jean LemordantRange Rover V8
163 Jean-François Sausset Pierre Le Monnier-Renault 4
164 Olivier Turcat Dominique de Araujo-Cournil
165 Marc André Philippe Puyfoulhoux-Peugeot 404 Plateu
166 Jean Dominique Clément Anne Clément-Land Rover
167 Christian Sandron Philippe Alberto-Citroën Dyane
168 René Metge Claude Barbier-Range Rover V8
169 Georges Houel Christian Pouchelon-Renault 30
170 Gil Guillot Patrice Pradeau-Cournil
171 Philippe Chapel Sannier Yves BellevilleRange Rover V8
172 Jean-Pierre Kurrer Jean-Claude Henriet-Cournil
173 Gérard Dorangeon Bernard Preschey-Renault 5
174 Michel Puren Pierre Dumas-Range Rover V8
175 René Banino Henri Legourriérec-Toyota BJ
176 Claude Sezalory Diven Casarini De FrémontToyota BJ
177 Eric Vuillemin Daniel Adrian-Peugeot 404 Plateu
178 Dominique Bertrand Thierry De Saulieu Claude PrévostFiat Campagnola
179 Christian De Cortanze Pierre Rigal-Fiat Campagnola
180 Jean-François Dunac François Beau Jean-Pierre ChapelPinzgauer 6X6
181 Michel Pignot Jean-Claude Marie-Saviem SM8
182 Max Meynier Francis Zegut Christian BoudasToyota FJ40
183 Philippe Hrouda Marie-Josée Perez Nicole ChastenetPeugeot 504 Break
184 Jacky Haas Elisabeth Trebuchet Henri PoulainRenault 12 Break
185 Gérard Bouvier Gérard Ceolin Odile RosanvalPeugeot 504 Break
186 Guy Dreumont Serge Rafal-Peugeot 504 Break
187 Alain Mekki Jean Neault-Unic
188 Joseph De Quecker Jean-Pierre Dufour François-Xavier BeaudetToyota BJ
189 Christian Rodier Bourdex FabreMercedes-Benz Unimog
190 Bernard Guengant Christian van Ryswyck Gabriel SivalyRange Rover V8
191 Michel van Gorp Dominique Pipat-Toyota BJ
192 Daniel Petit Françis Mare-Unic
193 Christian Lacombe Catherine de Mesmaeker Georges RenouToyota BJ
194 Benoît Chavane Alain Corroler-Talbot Rancho
195 William MazoyerUnknown-Saviem TP3
196 Pierre Devaux Jean-Louis Malvoisin Roland DigaldiUnic
199UnknownMeppielJardinMercedes-Benz
200 Thierry Sabine Daniel Lentaigne-Toyota BJ

Stages

Stage Date From To Dist. Winner (cars) Winner (bikes)
1 26 December 1978 Paris Montlhéry3.6 C. Neveu C. Desnoyers
27 December 1978 Montlhéry MarseilleLiaison only
28–30 December 1978Transportation to Africa
2 31 December 1978 Algiers RegganeLiaison only
1 January 1979 Reggane In Salah270 J. Privé C. Rayer
2 January 1979 In Salah TamanrassetLiaison only
3 3 January 1979 Tamanrasset In Guezzam373 C. Neveu R. Potisek
4 January 1979 Assamaka Arlit230 G. Daurangeon P. Schaal
5 January 1979 Arlit Agadez231 P-L. Moreau J-C. Olivier
4 6 January 1979 Agadez Niamey230 C. Marreau J-C. Olivier
5 7 January 1979 Niamey Gao448Stage cancelled
8 January 1979 GaoRest day
6 9 January 1979 Gao Mopti600 A. Génestier G. Comte
10 January 1979 Mopti BamakoLiaison only
7 11 January 1979 Bamako Nioro du Sahel417 C. Giraudo P. Vassard
8 12 January 1979 Nioro du Sahel Kayes270None declared C. Rayer
13 January 1979 Kayes BakelLiaison only
14 January 1979 Bakel Dakar96 H. Rigal G. Comte
  • The above distances (in kilometres) refer only to the competitive timed part of the stage, which make up 3,168 km.

Results

Source[4]

Final standings (positions 1–10)
Pos. No. Competitor(s) Vehicle Class
1 12 Cyril NeveuYamaha XT 500Moto
2 2 Gilles ComteYamaha XT 500Moto
3 23 Philippe VassardHonda XL 250SMoto
4 162 Alain Génestier
Joseph Terbiaut
Jean Lemordant
Range Rover V8Auto
5 131 Claude Marreau
Bernard Marreau
Renault 4 SinparAuto
6 52 Alain SchaechtHonda XL 250SMoto
7 143 Cesare Giraudo
Antonio Cavalleri
Mario Cavalleri
Fiat CampagnolaAuto
8 3 Christian RayerYamaha XT 500Moto
9 141 Tommaso Carletti
Amarilli Carletti
Fiat CampagnolaAuto
10 134 Alain Vandekerkhove
Gérard Dutertry
Daniel Pichot
Toyota BJAuto

References

  1. "History of Dakar - RETROSPECTIVE 1979-2007" (PDF). Dakar. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  2. "Christophe Neveu". dakardantan.com. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  3. "Dakar Historic Book 2024".
  4. "Paris-Dakar 1979 - Classification". dakardantan.com.
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