#106 Dakar 2000 and beyond

Published January 10, 2026 | Last update January 10, 2026, 29 models online

The Dakar rally started as an adventure, invented by an adventurer, Thierry Sabine. Soon, the big manufacturers arrived. This process continued in the 21st century. The world was watching and Africa was no longer safe enough, so the circus moved to South America. But big money and sports washing took over and now they race in Saudi Arabia …
Manufacturers come and go but the racing is still great and there is enough sand and rocks.

The first part with Dakar models before 2000 can be found here.

2000 Dakar – Cairo, Schlesser Renault Buggy. Racing driver Jean-Louis Schlesser switched from prototypes to the desert. He developed his own car: a 2-wheel drive buggy that is much lighter than the big 4×4’s. With support from Renault, he wins Dakar with this car both in 1999 and 2000. This year’s the start of the race is in Dakar and the finish in Cairo.
#250 Jean-Louis Schlesser (F) / Henri Magne (F) – 1st
Schlesser Buggy – 3.0 liter Renault V6, approx. 260 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1180 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. Race Car Dynamics #unknown. 2WD

IXO Altaye #unknown non-tobacco version (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2000 Dakar – Cairo, Aixam Mega. Stéphane Peterhansel is one of the real great Dakar heroes. He had won the bike category no less than 6 times before he turned to cars. He won the 24 hour of Chamonix on snow and ice in 1998 and made his Dakar debut on 4 wheels in a Nissan in 1999. In 2000 he drove a Mega Desert, a car from a small French constructor that usually builds small city cars. Just like the winning Schlesser, it was a light car with only rear-wheel drive.
#270 Stéphane Peterhansel (F) / Jean-Paul Cottret (F) – 2nd
Aixam Mega Desert – 3.5 liter Mitsubishi 6G74 V6, approx. 260 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1250 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. Aixam #unknown. 2WD

NOREV 880020 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2000 Dakar – Cairo, Mitsubishi Pajero evo. Spaniard Miguel Prieto finished second in last year’s Dakar, being fastest of the Mitsubishis. Of course he got a factory car this year, and also a new co-pilot Pascal Maimon. The 9th stage brought bad luck for the Japanese cars. Prieto, Shinozuka and Sousa all got stuck in the dunes and had to abandon the event.
#257 Miguel Prieto (ES) / Pascal Maimon (F) – DNF
Mitsubishi Pajero evo – 3.5 liter Mitsubishi 6G74 V6, approx. 260 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1650 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. MPR7 #unknown. 4WD

SKID (Vitesse) SKM 99099 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2000 Dakar – Cairo, Toyota Landcruiser. Racing legend Jacky Ickx (he won in F1, 6 times Le Mans and Le Dakar) returned to the desert with his daughter Vanina. They finished 18th overall and 1st in the T1 standard class with their Toyota Landcruiser.
#274 Jacky Ickx (B) / Vanina Ickx (B) – 18th / 1st T1
Belgacom Toyota Landcuiser – 3.0 liter Toyota straight-6 approx. 210 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 2000 kg. Steel chassis, chassisnr. Toyota J100 unknown 4WD

SKID (Vitesse) SKM 99017 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2000 Dakar – Cairo, Mercedes-Benz ML430. Former Formula 1 driver Philippe Alliot was also attracted to the desert (just as Ickx, winner Schlesser, Pescarolo, Regazzoni and Lafitte before him). He did pretty well finishing 6th in Dakar 1998 and a stage win in the 1999 Pharaoh Rallye. He competed in the Marathon category with this Mercedes ML 430, but retired on the third day. I can’t find a photo so I added some from other ML from the same year …
#262 Philippe Alliot (F) / Bruno Cattarelli (F) – DNF
Georges Groine Mercedes-Benz ML430 – 4.3 liter Mercedes 113.942 – V8, approx. 300 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1900 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown

SKID (Vitesse) SKM 99106 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 2 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2001 Paris – Dakar, Mitsubishi Pajero evo. Jutta Kleinschmidt was the first woman to win a stage in the Schlesser Buggy in 1998. Now she’s the first woman to win the overall classification in Le Dakar. Jutta drove together with fellow German Andreas Schulz in a Mitsubishi after she competed in the Schlesser Buggy in 1997 and 1998. Jean-Louis Schlesser finished third in his Buggy after he was penalized for an hour earlier in the rally. He would have won without this. Between 1988 and 1992 Jutta started in the bike categorie in Dakar. She has also competed in the Nürburgring 24h and scored a class win and 7th overall in 1999.
#205 Jutta Kleinschmidt (D) / Andreas Schulz (D) – 1st
Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany Mitsubishi Pajero Evo – Mitsubishi Pajero evo – 3.5 liter Mitsubishi 6G74 V6, approx. 260 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1650 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. MPR8 #unknown. 4WD

NOREV La Legende de Daker 15 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2002 Arras – Madrid – Dakar, KTM LC8 950 Rally. KTM is the leading bike manufacturer in the Dakar rally. It’s number one rider Fabrizio Meoni won in 2001 with a single-cylinder and in 2002 with this big twin-cylinder bike, but sadly had a fatal accident in the 2005 Dakar while riding in the lead.
#1 Fabrizio Meoni (I) – 1st
KTM LC8 950 Rally – 950 cc KTM V2, approx. 105 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 200 kg. Steel frame, number unknown

IXO RAB052 (plastic 1:32)
- Overall rating: 2 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2003 Marseille – Sharm el Sheikh, VW Tarek. In 1980, Volkwagen won the second Dakar with the factory entered Iltis. In 2003 the brand returned to Dakar with this Tarek buggy. It had the looks of the W12 concept car, but was equiped with a 1.9 liter TDI turbodiesel engine with only 220 bhp and had rear wheel drive only. This was compensated by a low weight and great torque. VW entered 5 cars among which this with Kleinschmidt and Pons who won the race in 2001 with Mitsubishi. From 2004 VW would use the 4WD Touareg.
#203 Jutta Kleinschmidt (D) / Fabrizia Pons (ES) – 8th
VW Motorsport Volkswagen Tarek – 1.9 liter VW TDI straight-4 turbodiesel, approx. 220 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1180 hp. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 2WD

NOREV La Legende de Daker 32 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2003 Marseille – Sharm el Sheik, BMW X5. X-raid, the team from BMW-heir Sven Quandt built this Dakar version of the luxury SUV BMW X5. Former alpine ski star Luc Alphand drove the twin-turbodiesel X5 towards a 9th place in its desert debut.
#221 Luc Alphand (F) / Michael Stevenson (GB) – 9th
X-Raid BMW X5 – 3.0 liter BMW straight-6 turbo-diesel, approx. 250 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1900 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 4WD

SPARK S0492 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2003 Marseille – Sharm el Sheik, Mitsubishi Pajero. Mitsubishi’s and Dakar go back until 1983 when Andrew Cowan won the marathon class. Cowan has led Mitsubishi towards 9 overall victories since then, the first one in 1985. Since 2001, Mitsubishi is the new “king of the Desert”. This older Pajero from Fontenay (winner in 1998) finished 2nd in 2003 between two newer Pajero Coupes. The race didn’t finish in Dakar this year, but in Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.
#202 Jean-Pierre Fontenay (F) / Gilles Picard (F) – 2nd
Mitsubishi Pajero – 3.5 liter Mitsubishi 6G74 V6, approx. 270 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1650 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. Mitsubishi MPR9 #W1J003035 4WD

IXO RAM111 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2003 Marseille – Sharm el Sheik, Nissan Navara. Nissan introduced the new Navara Pick Up in 2003. Target is to win Dakar within four years (which wouldn’t be the case). Old desert fox Ari Vatanen, who already won 4 times, scored 4 day victories and finished 7th overall in the first year as a full works team.
#204 Ari Vatanen (FIN) / Tina Thörner (S) – 7th
Nissan Motorsport Nissan Navara Pick-up – 3.5 liter Nissan VQ35DE V6, approx. 280 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1700 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 4WD

J-COLLECTION JC045 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2004 Barcelona – Dakar, VW Race Touareg. Volkswagen won Dakar back in 1980, only the second year in the existence of the rally. The new prototype 4WD VW Race Touareg arrives in 2004 with support from Red Bull. It would be a learning year in which both cars manage to reach Dakar. In 2005 the car is already more competitive (third) and a winner in the future.
#204 Jutta Kleinschmidt (D) / Fabrizia Pons (ES) – 17th
VW Motorsport Volkswagen Race Touareg – 2.3 liter VW straight-5 turbodiesel, approx. 230 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1750 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 4WD

MINICHAMPS 436 045304 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2004 Barcelona – Dakar, Mitsubishi Pajero evo coupe. Stéphane Peterhansel won Dakar already 6 times on a motorbike before he switched to four wheels. And his record there is also very impressive: Already in his second attempt he finished second in the little Mega. Last year he scored six stage wins and finished third. This year was his first victory on 4 wheels. He would go on and win next year’s race also. After that followed wins with MINI (3x) and Peugeot (2x) and who knows what will happen next.
#203 Stéphane Peterhansel (F) / Jean-Paul Cottret (F) – 1st
RalliArt Mitsubishi Pajero evo coupe – 4.0 liter Mitsubishi 6G74 V6, approx. 270 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1800 kg. Steel space frame (SBM), chassisnr. Mitsubishi MPR10 #2. 4WD

SOLIDO 11596 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 2 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

In January 2005, I visited the finish of the Dakar in Dakar, Senegal. We were in the garden of the Meridien Hotel near the most western point of Dakar where the competitors finished the liaison. A day later in the dunes between the ocean and the ‘Lac Rose’ we saw the last special.
Here are a few pictures I took, I even brought my small 959 with me :-

2005 Barcelona – Dakar, Mitsubishi Pajero evo coupe. A lot of Dakar experience is combined here. Mitsubishi’s and Dakar go back until 1983 when Andrew Cowan won the marathon class. Cowan has led Mitsubishi towards 9 overall victories since then. Stephane Peterhansel had won Dakar 6 times on a bike and this is his second of 8 victories on 4 wheels.
#306 Stéphane Peterhansel (F) / Jean-Paul Cottret (F) – 1st
RalliArt Mitsubishi Pajero evo coupe – 4.0 liter Mitsubishi 6G74 V6, approx. 270 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1800 kg. Steel space frame (SBM), chassisnr. Mitsubishi MPR11 #unknown. 4WD

SOLIDO Racing Series 15114-01 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 2 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2005 Barcelona – Dakar, VW Race Touareg. The Race Touareg made its debut in Dakar last year, a year later the team is stronger and more competitive. The ladies team Kleinschmidt and Pons finished third behind two Mitsubishi Pajeros. Bruno Saby and Michel Périn finished fifth in the second Touareg. It would take a few more years but the Race Touareg 2 and Race Touareg 3 would dominate Dakar between 2009 and 2011 with three wins in a row. By 2011, the Race Touareg 3 had a 4-valve 2.5 liter turbo diesel that delivered over 310 hp.
#310 Jutta Kleinschmidt (D) / Fabrizia Pons (ES) – 3rd
VW Motorsport Volkswagen Race Touareg – 2.3 liter VW straight-5 turbodiesel, approx. 250 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1750 kg. 4WD. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 4WD

MINICHAMPS MC 436 055310 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

South America

Four tourists had been murdered in Mauritania by terrorist groups. The 2008 Dakar was cancelled at the very last moment because the safety of the teams and media could not be guaranteed. The 2009 edition moved to South America and has never returned to Africa since …

2011 “Dakar” Argentine – Chile – Argentine, Mitsubishi Lancer Racing. Dutchman Erik van Loon tried his luck first in the ‘normal’ rallies before switching to Dakar. This year he competes in a Mitsubishi Lancer Racing and manages a very fine 11th place in the end. The Dakar is won by Nasser Al-Attiyah in a Volkswagen Race Touareg.
#320 Erik van Loon (NL) / Harmen Scholtalbers (NL) – 11th
XDakar Mitsubishi Lancer Racing – 3.0 liter Mitsubishi 6G7 DI-D V6 turbo diesel, approx. 270 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1825 kg. Steel space frame Mitsubishi MRX09, chasing. unknown. 4WD

VITESSE 43439 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2012 “Dakar” Argentine – Chile – Peru, Mitsubishi Lancer Racing. In 2012, three Dutch top rally drivers took off to the South-American Dakar. They managed to obtain a number of Mitsubishi Lancer Racing (MRX09). The cars were prepared by Wevers and all managed to finish the rally: Wevers 34th, Van Loon 17th and Bernhard ten Brinke and Matthieu Baumel did exceptionally well with 9th in their debut year. Baumel would become the copilot from Nassar al Attiyah and win Dakar in the future.
#314 Bernhard ten Brinke (NL) / Matthieu Baumel (F) – 9th
Wevers Dakar Mitsubishi Lancer Racing – 3.0 liter Mitsubishi 6G7 DI-D V6 turbo diesel, approx. 270 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1825 kg. Steel space frame Mitsubishi MRX09, chasing. unknown. 4WD

VITESSE 43461 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2013 Argentine – – Peru, MINI All4 Racing. Stéphane Peterhansel was already a hero before he started racing cars in Dakar after he won the event on a motorcycle 6 times. His 2nd attempt came close: second in 2000 with the Mega. He won it three times with a Mitsubishi and joined the X-Raid team in 2010. X-Raid built the BMW X5’s and X3 CC and based upon this last one, the MINI 4All Racing. It uses the same strong BMW 6-cilinder turbodiesel engine that delivers 800 Nm torque. Peterhansel won Dakar with it in 2012 and 2013.
#302 Stéphane Peterhansel (F) / Jean-Paul Cottret (F) – 1st
X-Raid MINI All4 Racing – 3.0 liter BMW straight-6 turbo-diesel, approx. 320 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1800 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 4WD

TRUE SCALE MINIATURES TSM 144345 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS

2014 “Dakar” Argentine & Chile, SMS Original. Carlos Sainz won “Le Dakar” in 2010 with the Red Bull sponsored VW Touareg. In 2014 he is back in the Red Bull team, now with a French built SMG, a 2-wheel driven buggy with Ford V8 engine developed and built by Philippe Gache. He won two stages but didn’t reach the finish. The next few years he would be driving for Peugeot.
#303 Carlos Sainz sr. (ES) / Thomas Gottschalk (D) – DNF
SMG Rally Team SMG Original – 5.0 liter Ford V8, approx. 420 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1450 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 2WD

IXO – Altaya Collection Dakar DK709 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2015 “Dakar” Argentine & Chile, Peugeot 2008 DKR. After the group B era in rally, Peugeot brought their cars to Le Dakar and dominated for some years. Now the French are back with a 2-wheel drive car that resembles the little 2008 city SUV. It turns out to be quite effective. It finishes only in 11th place this year but next year legendary Stéphane Peterhansel would take his 6th Dakar win after Loeb crashes in the last stage.
#302 Stéphane Peterhansel (F) / Jean-Paul Cottret (F) – 11th
Peugeot Sport Peugeot 2008 DKR – 3.0 liter Peugeot V6 HDi twin turbo diesel, approx. 340 hp. BF Michelin tires. Weight 1400 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 2WD

SPARK S4454 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS

2016 “Dakar” Argentine & Bolivia, MINI All4 Racing. Sven Quandt’s X-Raid team first built the BMW X5’s and X3 CC. Based upon the X3 they developed this MINI All4 Racing that won Dakar 4 years in a row. But also, in 2016 it is still competitive; Nassar al Attiyah finished in second place behind the Peugeot of no other than Stéphane Peterhansel, both with support from Red Bull.
#300 Nassar al Attiyah (QAT) / Mathieu Baumel (F) – 2nd
X-Raid MINI All4 Racing – 3.0 liter BMW straight-6 turbo-diesel, approx. 320 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1800 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 4WD

IXO – Altaya Collection Dakar RLY37Z (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2016 “Dakar” Argentine & Bolivia, Renault Duster. The Argentinian Renault distributor entered two Dusters that were built by Thompson Racing from South Africa. The 2016 cars had a V6, this year they were powered by Nissan/Infiniti V8 engines. Quite a contrast to the Dusters we know in Europe that are built by Dacia and have small 3- or 4-cylinder engines.
#317 Emilio Spataro (ARG) / Benjamin Lozada (ARG) – DNF
Renault Argentinia Duster V8 – 5.0 liter Nissan VK-50, approx. 385 hp. BF Goodrich, Weight 1900 kg. Steel space frame, Thompson Engineering #unknown. 4WD

IXO Altaya Collection Dakar RLY26 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS

2017 “Dakar” Paraguay – Argentine – Bolivia, Toyota GR HiLux. Toyota’s have been competing in Dakar for many years, but those were semi-works teams from South African Overdrive or Imperial. This, however is a full works entry by Toyota Gazoo Racing, but are still built in cooperation with their South African partners. The experienced Nasser al Attiyah wins the first special stage but has to retire soon after. In 2018 he finishes second and in 2019 he would win with Toyota.
#301 Nassar al Attiyah (QAT) / Mathieu Baumel (F) – DNF
Gazoo Racing Toyota GR HiLux – 5.0 liter Toyota 2UR V8, approx. 385 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1850 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 4WD

IXO – Altaya Collection Dakar RLY34 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2018 “Dakar” Peru – Bolivia – Argentine, Peugeot 3008 DKR Maxi. The little Peugeot 2008 DKR did well, Peterhansel winning in 2016. For 2017 the 3008 DKR succeeds the 2008 DKR and with success; “Mr Dakar” Stephane Peterhansel again takes victory. A new car is announced for the 2018 Dakar, the 3008 DKR Maxi. Based on last year’s 3008 but with a 20 cm wider track. Carlos Sainz takes it to victory, Peterhansel finishes 4th and Sébastien Loeb did win a stage but has to retire.
#306 Sébastien Loeb (F) / Daniel Elena (F) – DNF
Peugeot Sport Peugeot 3008 DKR Maxi – 3.0 liter Peugeot V6 HDi twin turbo diesel, approx. 340 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1400 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 2WD

SPARK S5619 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS

Saudi Arabia

South America has proven quite an alternative for the African deserts. The Andes mountains, the decent at Iquiqe, Bolivian salt flats, Argentinian sandy dunes and some bad weather that caused floods. South America had lots to offer except money …
The Arab world has money in abundance and loves to create a PR-show to improve their imago, called ‘sportswashing’. So now we already have F1 Grand Prix in Jeddah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and since some years the “Dakar” in Saudi Arabia …

2021 “Dakar” Saudi Arabia, BRX Hunter. Prodrive has a great record in managing rally cars from other brands. But now they have developed their own car; the BRX Hunter, a 4WD supercar for the Dakar rally. Nine times world champion Sébastien Loeb has to retire in the second week of the rally. In 2022 and 2023 he will finish second in the rally and in 2024 third, winning 14 special stages over the last three years.
#305 Sébastien Loeb (F) / Daniel Elena (F) – DNF
Bahrain Raid Xtreme BRX Hunter – 3.5 liter Ford V6 twin-turbo, approx. 400 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1850 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. Prodrive # unknown. 4WD

IXO Altaya #unknown
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS

2022 “Dakar” Saudi Arabia, Audi RS Q e-tron. In 2022 Audi joins the Dakar competition with an exceptional car. The RS Quattro e-tron has two electric motors, but also a TFSI petrol engine from a DTM car that acts as a generator and makes more noise than any other Dakar car because it’s constantly revving to charge the batteries. The project will last three years, 2022 was a learning year and Stéphane Peterhansel won one special stage but didn’t finish the rally. Mattias Ekström and Sainz both won a stage in 2023, but only Ekström finished the race in 14th place. In 2024 – the last year of the project – good old Carlos Sainz sr. was fast and reliable and would take victory.
#200 Stéphane Peterhansel (F) / Édouard Boulanger (F) – DNF
Audi RS Q e-tron – 2 electric motors & 2.0 Audi TFSi straight-4 turbo, approx. 385 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 2100 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. unknown.

SPARK Audi 502.22.001.31 (resin)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2023 “Dakar” Saudi Arabia, Toyota HiLux. The Toyota HiLux has been a contender for many years, having won the rally four times by now (2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025). Just as the other makes, the Toyota developed over the years. The cars have become bigger and the tracks have become much wider, the normally aspirated V8 made place for a smaller and lighter V6 twin turbo. South African Henk Lategan drove this car to fifth in the 2023 Dakar. Nasser al Attiyah won the event in a similar car.
#217 Henk Lategan (SA) / Brett Cummings (SAF) – 5th
Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota HiLux – 3.4 liter Toyota V35A twin-turbo V6, approx. 400 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 1850 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. #unknown. 4WD

IXO RAM928B.22 (diecast)
- Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

Trucks

In January 2005, I visited the finish of the Dakar in Dakar, Senegal. We were in the garden of the Meridien Hotel near the most western point of Dakar where the competitors finished the liaison. A day later in the dunes between the ocean and the ‘Lac Rose’ we saw the last special.
Here are a few pictures I took

2005 Barcelona – Dakar, DAF CF75 FAV4x4. Jan de Rooy drove many Dakars in the 1980’s, winning in 1987 with his mighty DAF TwinTurbo II. Those monster trucks with 2 engines and over 1000 hp are prohibited now, also the top speed is restricted to 160 km/h. Now Jan is back after a 13 year break, this year together with his son Gerard in the same team. Father and son De Rooy were aiming for a podium in 2005, but were beaten by the Russian Kamaz. Jan finished 6th and Gerard 5th.
#521 Jan de Rooy (NL) / Davy Colebunders (B) / Clim Smulders (NL) – 6th
Team De Rooy DAF CF75 FAV 4×4 – 12.6 liter DAF XEC straight-6 turbodiesel, 800 hp. BF Goodrich tires. Weight 8500 kg. Steel ladder chassis, chassisnr. unknown

DIAMOND LABEL 62865 non-tobacco dirty version (plastic scale 1:50)
- Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

2012 “Dakar” Argentine – Chile – Peru, Iveco Powerstar. Jan de Rooy drove many Dakar’s in the 1980’s, winning in 1987 with his mighty TwinTurbo II. After a break of 13 years, he again participated in 2002 together with his son Gerard. Father and son De Rooy tried to beat the Russian Kamaz for a number of years, but the DAF just was not powerful enough. Gerard decides to build his own prototype based upon a Iveco Powerstar and wins in 2012.
#502 Gerard de Rooy (NL) / Tom Colsoul (B) / Darek Rodewald (NL) – 1st
Team de Rooy Iveco Powerstar – 12,9 liter Iveco straight-6 turbodiesel, approx. 840 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 10.000 kg. Steel ladder frame, #unknown