Jan 1, 1980 CE
Rally Start in Paris
The second edition of the Paris-Dakar Rally began in Paris, France, with 170 vehicles taking the start of the grueling journey to Africa.
Chronological Storyline (6 Milestones)
Jan 3, 1980 CE
Crossing to Africa
Competitors crossed the Mediterranean Sea and arrived in Algeria to begin the African stages of the rally, facing the harsh Sahara desert conditions.
Jan 10, 1980 CE
Fatalities and Hardships
The rally was marred by tragedy when French motorcyclist Patrick Dodain died during the event, highlighting the extreme dangers of the desert race.
Jan 15, 1980 CE
Volkswagen Iltis Dominance
Freddy Kottulinsky and his co-driver took the lead in the car category driving a Volkswagen Iltis, demonstrating the vehicle's capability in the dunes.
Jan 20, 1980 CE
Neveu's Motorcycle Lead
Cyril Neveu established a commanding lead in the motorcycle category, positioning himself to secure his second consecutive Dakar Rally victory.
Jan 23, 1980 CE
Finish in Dakar
The rally concluded in Dakar, Senegal, with Freddy Kottulinsky winning the cars and Cyril Neveu winning the motorcycles, marking a successful second running of the event.