The 1999 Dakar Rally was the 21st running of the event, starting from Granada, Spain on January 1 and finishing in Dakar, Senegal on January 17. The route covered approximately 9,000 km through Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal. Jean-Louis Schlesser won the car category in his Schlesser-Renault buggy, while Richard Sainct claimed victory in the motorcycle category aboard a BMW.
The 1999 Dakar Rally officially began in Granada, Spain, with competitors embarking on the 21st edition of the legendary raid. The route would take them through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal over approximately 9,000 kilometers.
After completing initial liaison stages in Spain, competitors crossed the Mediterranean to begin the African legs in Morocco, facing the challenging terrain of the Atlas Mountains and the first desert stages.
Competitors navigated through the Moroccan desert stages, including the Erg Chebbi dunes near Erfoud, which tested both drivers and navigators with complex dune crossings and navigation challenges.
The rally entered Mauritania, known for some of the most demanding desert stages. The vast, featureless landscapes and deep sand made navigation extremely difficult, with several competitors losing significant time.
Competitors reached Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, for a rest day. The Mauritanian stages had proven particularly grueling, with extreme heat, soft sand, and navigation difficulties eliminating many competitors.
The rally continued through Mali, with stages taking competitors through varied terrain including savanna, bush tracks, and rocky paths. The transition from deep desert to more varied landscapes presented new challenges for the remaining competitors.
Competitors entered Senegal for the final stages, approaching the finish in Dakar. The famous Lac Rose (Pink Lake) stage would be one of the final tests before the rally's conclusion.
Jean-Louis Schlesser won the car category in his Schlesser-Renault buggy, marking a significant victory for the two-wheel-drive buggy over the four-wheel-drive factory teams. Richard Sainct claimed victory in the motorcycle category aboard a BMW. The rally concluded in Dakar after approximately 9,000 kilometers of competition.