Huge entry list for 2022 Dakar Classic Rally

Since 1978, the Dakar Rally (née Paris Dakar) has pit racer and machine against some of the most rugged terrain on earth.

Now based in Saudi Arabia, the Dakar includes categories for cars, buggies, motorcycles, trucks, quad-bikes and for the first time in 2021, offered a 'Classic' category for vehicles of the same type that had competed in any pre-2000 Dakar race.

The Dakar Classic (for cars and trucks) is run over a slightly different course, but still requires hardy vehicles and even hardier drivers. The 2021 entry list saw 21 cars and three trucks compete, with the 1979 Sunhill Buggy (team 229) of Douton and Etienne taking overall honours.

For the 2022 running, the entry list has expanded somewhat to include 134 cars and 18 trucks. The cars span 19 different makes that all have a historical significance to the gruelling desert event.

There are 41 Toyotas, 18 Mitsubishis, 15 Mercedes-Benz and 12 Land Rovers among a smattering of Peugeots, Porsches, Ladas, and even a Citroen CX.

The most popular model is the 80-Series LandCruiser (19 entries), but some more exotic rally specials, like the Mitisubishi Pajero Evo and Peugeot 205 T16 are impressive inclusions. Mitsubishi has taken line-honours in the event a record 12 times.

Entry for the Dakar Classic costs €15,000 (A$23,500), but preparation of the vehicle and support costs during the event are not included, so it's not something to be attempted lightly. As reported recently, a privateer team from Switzerland which has entered its Lada Niva (763), has sought and secured sponsorship from Lada itself to assist with its campaign.

Classic entrants run as a 'regularity' time trial rather than an overall pace-based event, to allow all vehicles to compete fairly for the top prize.

More photos and driver details are available on the Dakar Rally Facebook page.

The 2022 Dakar runs between January 1st and January 14th 2022, and the full entry list of Classic 'Car' class entrants (as of today) is as follows: