The 2015 Dakar Rally was the 37th edition of the event, held from January 4 to January 17, 2015. The rally started and finished in Buenos Aires, Argentina, passing through Chile and Bolivia. Nasser Al-Attiyah won the car category, Marc Coma won the motorcycle category for the fifth time, Ayrat Mardeev won the truck category, and Ignacio Casale won the quad category.
The 2015 Dakar Rally commenced in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a ceremonial start. The route would cover over 9,000 kilometers across Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia before returning to Buenos Aires.
The first full stage took competitors from Buenos Aires to Villa Carlos Paz in Argentina. Nani Roma, the defending car champion, finished strongly but would soon face trouble in subsequent stages.
Heavy rains and flooding forced organizers to shorten Stage 2 between Villa Carlos Paz and San Juan. The special stage was reduced significantly, impacting the competitive distance for that day.
Defending champion Nani Roma suffered a crash during Stage 3 that severely damaged his Mini. Although he continued, the time loss was insurmountable, effectively ending his title defense.
The rally entered Bolivia, with stages at high altitude on the Andean altiplano. The extreme elevation tested competitors' endurance and vehicle performance, with several stages running above 4,000 meters.
Competitors faced a grueling marathon stage through the Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest places on Earth. Nasser Al-Attiyah consolidated his lead in the car category during this phase.
Nasser Al-Attiyah won the car category driving a Mini All4 Racing, finishing over 35 minutes ahead of Giniel de Villiers. Marc Coma claimed his fifth Dakar motorcycle title on a KTM. Ayrat Mardeev won the truck category, and Ignacio Casale won the quad category. The rally concluded with a ceremonial finish in Buenos Aires.