Sports/Motorsport/Dakar Rally • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
The 5th edition of the Paris-Dakar Rally, held from January 1 to January 20, 1983. The route covered approximately 10,000 km from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal, crossing Algeria, Niger, Mali, and Senegal. Belgian driver Jacky Ickx won the car category in a Mercedes-Benz 280GE, while French rider Hubert Auriol won the motorcycle category on a BMW. The rally was marked by extreme conditions, multiple retirements, and several fatalities.
Chronological Storyline (7 Milestones)
Jan 1, 1983 CE
Rally Start in Paris
The 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally began from Paris, France, with competitors departing on a journey of approximately 10,000 kilometers across North and West Africa. The field included cars, motorcycles, and trucks, with hundreds of entrants from numerous countries.
3rd PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1981). Geographic limits of the map: N: 60.0° N S: 0.0° N W: 30.0° W E: 30.0° E By Redboston - Own work (based on File:PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1979).svg by Das steinerne Herz; using source information from official site and File:Whole world - land and oceans 12000.jpg for background, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15000865
Jan 3, 1983 CE
Crossing into Algeria
Competitors crossed the Mediterranean by ferry from France to Algeria, then began the African stages through the Sahara Desert. The Algerian stages featured deep sand dunes and extreme heat, causing early retirements among both car and motorcycle entrants.
3rd PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1981). Geographic limits of the map: N: 60.0° N S: 0.0° N W: 30.0° W E: 30.0° E By Redboston - Own work (based on File:PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1979).svg by Das steinerne Herz; using source information from official site and File:Whole world - land and oceans 12000.jpg for background, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15000865
Jan 8, 1983 CE
Niger Desert Stages
The rally entered Niger, where competitors faced some of the most challenging terrain of the event, including vast ergs and rocky pistes. Navigation errors and mechanical failures took a heavy toll on the field, reducing the number of remaining competitors significantly.
3rd PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1981). Geographic limits of the map: N: 60.0° N S: 0.0° N W: 30.0° W E: 30.0° E By Redboston - Own work (based on File:PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1979).svg by Das steinerne Herz; using source information from official site and File:Whole world - land and oceans 12000.jpg for background, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15000865
Jan 12, 1983 CE
Fatalities and Safety Concerns
During the 1983 edition, several competitors and spectators lost their lives in accidents, underscoring the extreme danger of the rally. The deaths prompted renewed debate about safety measures in long-distance desert racing.
3rd PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1981). Geographic limits of the map: N: 60.0° N S: 0.0° N W: 30.0° W E: 30.0° E By Redboston - Own work (based on File:PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1979).svg by Das steinerne Herz; using source information from official site and File:Whole world - land and oceans 12000.jpg for background, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15000865
Jan 15, 1983 CE
Mali Stages and Auriol's Lead
As the rally passed through Mali, French motorcycle rider Hubert Auriol on a BMW established a commanding lead in the motorcycle category. In the car category, Jacky Ickx in his Mercedes-Benz 280GE was battling for the top position against rival manufacturers.
3rd PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1981). Geographic limits of the map: N: 60.0° N S: 0.0° N W: 30.0° W E: 30.0° E By Redboston - Own work (based on File:PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1979).svg by Das steinerne Herz; using source information from official site and File:Whole world - land and oceans 12000.jpg for background, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15000865
Jan 19, 1983 CE
Final Push to Senegal
Competitors entered Senegal for the final stages toward Dakar. Jacky Ickx had built a substantial lead in the car category, while Hubert Auriol maintained his advantage in the motorcycle classification. The remaining competitors faced the last challenging stages before the finish.
3rd PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1981). Geographic limits of the map: N: 60.0° N S: 0.0° N W: 30.0° W E: 30.0° E By Redboston - Own work (based on File:PARIS - ALGIERS - DAKAR route (1979).svg by Das steinerne Herz; using source information from official site and File:Whole world - land and oceans 12000.jpg for background, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15000865
Jan 20, 1983 CE
Finish in Dakar — Ickx and Auriol Victorious
The 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally concluded in Dakar, Senegal. Belgian driver Jacky Ickx won the car category driving a Mercedes-Benz 280GE, while French rider Hubert Auriol claimed victory in the motorcycle category aboard a BMW. The event had a high attrition rate, with a large percentage of starters failing to reach the finish.
Jacy Ickx at Mille Miglia press conference in Geneve 2018 By Alexander Migl - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67143771
