The 2003 Dakar Rally, also known as the 2003 Telefónica-Dakar Rally, was the 25th running of the Dakar Rally event. The rally began on 1 January 2003 at Marseille in France and finished at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt on 19 January, with the course crossing North Africa.
Kenjiro Shinozuka, who won the event in 1997, suffered serious injury in an accident between Ghat and Sabha in Libya. Former world rally champion and four times winner of the Dakar Rally, Ari Vatanen, returned to take part in the rally, and won the ninth, thirteen and fifteen stages French co-driver, Bruno Cauvy died in an accident on the tenth stage when his car went out of control and overturned in sand dunes. Stephane Peterhansel took an early lead in the rally, but was forced out in the penultimate stage by mechanical problems. The rally was won for the second time in succession by Japanese driver, Hiroshi Masuoka. The motorcycle category was won for the third time by Richard Sainct.
Stages Stage Date From To Total(km)Stage winnersBikesCarsTrucks1 1 January Marseille Narbonne 265 C. Despres K. Shinozuka A. de Azevedo2 2 January Narbonne Castellón de la Plana 574 R. Sainct S. Peterhansel J. de Rooy3 3 January Castellón de la Plana Valencia 95 C. Despres H. Masuoka G. de Rooy 4 January Valencia TunisRest day4 5 January Tunis Tozeur 463 N. Roma S. Peterhansel J. de Rooy5 6 January Tozeur El Borma 494 R. Sainct H. Masuoka K. Loprais6 7 January El Borma Ghadames 278 A. Cox S. Peterhansel G. de Rooy7 8 January Ghadames Ghat 691 R. Sainct S. Peterhansel G. de Rooy8 9 January Ghat Sabha 727 G. Sala H. Masuoka V. Chagin9 10 January Sabha Zilla585 R. Sainct A. Vatanen G. de Rooy10 11 January Zilla Sarir554 P-G. Lundmark H. Masuoka A. de Azevedo11 12 January Sarir Siwa586 F. Meoni S. Peterhansel G. de Rooy 13 January Siwa Rest day12 14 January Siwa 445 G. Sala S. Peterhansel V. Chagin13 15 January Siwa Dakhla 657 F. Meoni A. Vatanen F. Kabirov14 16 January Dakhla Luxor 702 R. Sainct L. Alphand F. Kabirov15 17 January Luxor Abu Rish 576 F. Meoni A. Vatanen F. Kabirov16 18 January Abu Rish Sharm El Sheikh 828 C. Despres S. Henrard F. Kabirov17 19 January Sharm El Sheikh 56 P-G. Lundmark A. Vatanen F. Kabirov
- Miki Biasion set the fastest time for the stage, but was stripped of the win after incurring a ten-hour penalty for a gearbox change in parc ferme conditions.
Stage Results
Motorcycles Stage result General classification Stage PosCompetitorMakeTimeGap PosCompetitorMakeTimeGap11 Cyril DespresKTM1:39Stage not counted towards overall classification2 Nani RomaKTM1:400:013 Cyril Raynal KTM1:410:0221 Richard Sainct KTM41:401 Richard SainctKTM41:402 Alfie Cox KTM41:550:152 Alfie CoxKTM41:550:153 Cyril DespresKTM42:170:373 Cyril DespresKTM42:170:3731 Cyril DespresKTM6:301 Richard SainctKTM48:292 Eric Verhoef KTM6:320:022 Alfie CoxKTM48:390:103 Marc ComaKTM6:400:103 Cyril DespresKTM48:470:1841 Nani RomaKTM19:421 Richard SainctKTM1:08:292 Jean de Azevedo KTM19:580:162 Cyril DespresKTM1:08:510:223 Richard SainctKTM20:000:183 Nani RomaKTM1:09:280:5951 Richard SainctKTM2:41:421 Richard SainctKTM3:50:112 Fabrizio Meoni KTM2:41:590:172 Fabrizio MeoniKTM3:52:362:253 Nani RomaKTM2:44:593:173 Nani RomaKTM3:54:274:1661 Alfie CoxKTM2:27:541 Richard SainctKTM6:23:112 Nani Roma KTM2:29:011:072 Fabrizio MeoniKTM6:23:280:173 Cyril DespresKTM2:29:531:593 Nani RomaKTM6:23:280:1771 Richard SainctKTM5:49:521 Richard SainctKTM12:13:032 Fabrizio MeoniKTM5:51:221:302 Fabrizio MeoniKTM12:14:501:473 Nani RomaKTM5:55:225:303 Nani RomaKTM12:18:505:4781 Giovanni SalaKTM4:34:451 Fabrizio MeoniKTM16:56:342 Jean BrucyKTM4:36:512:062 Richard SainctKTM16:57:080:343 Cyril DespresKTM4:38:243:393 Nani RomaKTM16:58:412:0791 Richard SainctKTM6:01:231 Richard SainctKTM22:58:312 Fabrizio MeoniKTM6:03:271:442 Fabrizio MeoniKTM22:59:411:103 Jean de AzevedoKTM6:06:275:043 Cyril DespresKTM23:10:2111:50101 Per-Gunnar LundmarkKTM4:22:221 Richard SainctKTM27:25:272 Cyril DespresKTM4:26:093:472 Cyril DespresKTM27:36:3011:033 Richard SainctKTM4:26:564:343 Fabrizio MeoniKTM28:03:0137:34111 Fabrizio MeoniKTM3:45:521 Richard SainctKTM31:20:522 Richard SainctKTM3:55:259:332 Cyril DespresKTM31:33:3912:473 Cyril DespresKTM3:57:0911:173 Fabrizio MeoniKTM31:48:5328:01121 Giovanni SalaKTM3:41:141 Richard SainctKTM35:09:472 Pål Anders UllevålseterKTM3:41:220:082 Cyril DespresKTM35:20:3510:483 Miran StanovnikKTM3:42:221:083 Fabrizio MeoniKTM35:39:4730:00131 Fabrizio MeoniKTM4:47:181 Richard SainctKTM40:20:212 Richard SainctKTM5:10:3413:162 Cyril DespresKTM40:31:2311:023 Cyril DespresKTM5:10:4813:303 Fabrizio MeoniKTM40:37:0516:44141 Richard SainctKTM3:00:141 Richard SainctKTM43:20:352 Cyril DespresKTM3:00:320:182 Cyril DespresKTM43:31:5511:203 Marc ComaKTM3:03:223:083 Fabrizio MeoniKTM43:59:5639:21151 Fabrizio MeoniKTM4:42:251 Richard SainctKTM48:08:232 Per-Gunnar LundmarkKTM4:44:121:472 Cyril DespresKTM48:18:5210:293 Marc ComaKTM4:46:213:563 Fabrizio MeoniKTM48:42:2133:58161 Cyril DespresKTM4:52:191 Richard SainctKTM53:03:172 Richard SainctKTM4:54:542:352 Cyril DespresKTM53:11:117:543 Marc ComaKTM4:58:396:203 Fabrizio MeoniKTM53:41:3138:14171 Per-Gunnar LundmarkKTM19:341 Richard SainctKTM53:24:322 Pål Anders UllevålseterKTM19:420:082 Cyril DespresKTM53:31:507:183 Fabrizio MeoniKTM20:310:573 Fabrizio MeoniKTM54:02:0237:30
Cars Stage result General classification Stage PosCompetitorMakeTimeGap PosCompetitorMakeTimeGap11 Kenjiro Shinozuka Thierry Delli-ZottiNissan1:43Stage not counted towards overall classification2 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi1:440:013 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi1:440:0121 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi38:481 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi38:482 Giniel de Villiers Pascal MaimonNissan39:050:172 Giniel de Villiers Pascal MaimonNissan39:050:173 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi39:220:343 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi39:220:3431 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi6:421 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi45:352 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi6:470:052 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi46:040:293 Stéphane Henrard Bobby WillisVolkswagen6:550:133 Giniel de Villiers Pascal MaimonNissan46:080:3341 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi18:261 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi1:04:012 Grégoire de Mévius Alain GuehennecBMW18:480:222 Giniel de Villiers Pascal MaimonNissan1:05:241:233 Ari Vatanen Tina ThörnerNissan18:540:283 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi1:05:261:2551 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi2:31:591 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi3:37:252 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi2:34:192:202 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi3:38:200:553 Kenjiro Shinozuka Thierry Delli-ZottiNissan2:40:138:143 Kenjiro Shinozuka Thierry Delli-ZottiNissan3:48:1410:4961 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi2:02:561 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi5:41:162 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi2:04:401:442 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi5:42:050:493 Grégoire de Mévius Alain GuehennecBMW2:07:264:303 Grégoire de Mévius Alain GuehennecBMW5:56:4815:3271 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi5:07:411 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi10:48:572 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi5:19:1311:322 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi11:01:1812:213 Ari Vatanen Tina ThörnerNissan5:34:4527:043 Kenjiro Shinozuka Thierry Delli-ZottiNissan11:40:1751:2081 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi3:57:421 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi14:52:212 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi4:03:245:422 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi14:59:006:393 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi4:13:0915:273 Grégoire de Mévius Alain GuehennecBMW15:59:331:07:1291 Ari Vatanen Tina ThörnerNissan5:38:371 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi20:31:582 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi5:38:440:072 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi20:48:5016:523 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi5:39:371:003 Grégoire de Mévius Alain GuehennecBMW21:41:481:09:50101 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi3:46:361 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi24:21:202 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi3:49:222:462 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi24:35:2614:063 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi3:56:4810:123 Grégoire de Mévius Alain GuehennecBMW25:50:271:29:07111 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi3:32:531 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi27:54:132 Luc Alphand Matthew StevensonBMW3:34:231:302 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi28:10:4516:323 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi3:35:192:263 Grégoire de Mévius Alain GuehennecBMW29:26:001:31:47121 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi3:04:171 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi30:58:302 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi3:12:037:462 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi31:22:4824:183 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi3:21:0216:453 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi33:24:152:25:45131 Ari Vatanen Tina ThörnerNissan4:42:291 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi35:57:102 Luc Alphand Matthew StevensonBMW4:43:471:182 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi36:23:0025:503 Giniel de Villiers Pascal MaimonNissan4:50:518:223 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi38:26:432:29:33141 Luc Alphand Matthew StevensonBMW3:02:201 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi39:03:572 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi3:02:420:222 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi39:31:1027:133 Giniel de Villiers Pascal MaimonNissan3:03:261:063 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi41:29:252:25:28151 Ari Vatanen Tina ThörnerNissan4:06:511 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi43:25:412 Miki Biasion Tiziano SivieroMitsubishi4:13:146:232 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi43:51:3125:503 Giniel de Villiers Pascal MaimonNissan4:19:4012:493 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi45:49:282:23:47161 Stéphane Henrard Bobby Willis Volkswagen4:48:401 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi48:44:082 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi4:48:500:102 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi50:38:181:54:103 Giniel de Villiers Pascal MaimonNissan4:49:100:303 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi51:04:332:20:25171 Ari Vatanen Tina ThörnerNissan16:321 Hiroshi Masuoka Andreas SchulzMitsubishi49:08:522 Luc Alphand Matthew StevensonBMW17:481:162 Jean-Pierre Fontenay Gilles PicardMitsubishi51:01:041:52:123 Jutta Kleinschmidt Fabrizia PonsVolkswagen17:511:193 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi51:25:202:16:28
Trucks