The 2006 Dakar Rally, also known as the 2006 Paris-Dakar Rally, was the 28th running of the Dakar Rally event. The 2006 event ran from 31 December 2005 to 15 January 2006. It started from Lisbon, Portugal, and passed through Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, before finishing in Senegal. The format included speed restrictions on motorcycles and trucks and reduced use of global positioning systems. Competitors included double world rally champion, Carlos Sainz.
Entries
+ Number of participantsStageBikesCarsTrucksTotalStart of Rally 232 174 69 475Rest Day 131 115 51 297End of Rally 93 67 33 193
Bikes + Leading EntriesManufacturerTeamNo.Rider KTM138112465791021231442 Yamaha121555 Notes
Cars + Leading EntriesManufacturerTeamNo.DriverCo-Driver Mitsubishi300302304306301303305307309 BMWX-Raid308312313322311Nissan Dessoude323Tecnosport-Italia330314315316317345 BowlerBowler Off Road Ltd333 HummerTeam Gordon335
Trucks
+ Leading EntriesManufacturerTeamNo.DriverCo-Drivers Kamaz500508514 Hino501505503 Iveco507512519 Tatra509513524530
Stages
Stage Date From To Total(km/mi)Stage winnersBikesCarsTrucks1 31 December Lisbon Portimão C. Despres C. Sainz V. Chagin2 1 January Portimão Málaga R. Faria C. Sainz V. Chagin3 2 January Nador Er Rachidia A. Caldecott J-L. Schlesser V. Chagin4 3 January Er Rachidia Ouarzazate I. Esteve C. Sainz V. Chagin5 4 January Ouarzazate Tan-Tan C. Despres S. Peterhansel V. Chagin6 5 January Tan-Tan Zouérat C. de Gavardo T. Magnaldi V. Chagin7 6 January Zouérat Atar C. de Gavardo S. Peterhansel H. Stacey8 7 January Atar Nouakchott D. Casteu T. Magnaldi F. Kabirov 8 January NouakchottRest day9 9 January Nouakchott Kiffa C. Despres S. Peterhansel V. Chagin10 10 January Kiffa Kayes Stage cancelled C. Sainz H. Stacey11 11 January Kayes Bamako A. Duclos G. de Villiers H. Stacey12 12 January Bamako Labé C. Despres L. Alphand H. Stacey13 13 January Labé Tambacounda G. Sala L. Alphand H. Stacey14 14 January Tambacounda Dakar D. Frétigné G. Chicherit F. Kabirov15 15 January Dakar Non-timed
Notes: — Stage cancelled for bikes only in tribute to Andy Caldecott, who died during the previous stage.
Motorcycles Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott died in an accident during ninth stage. The tenth stage was not timed as a mark of respect for Caldecott. Spanish rider Marc Coma on KTM won the motorcycle category, second was French rider Cyril Despres and third Italian rider Giovanni Sala (both on KTM).
Stage result General classification Stage PosCompetitorMakeTimeGap PosCompetitorMakeTimeGap11 Cyril DespresKTM56:201 Cyril DespresKTM56:202 Ruben FariaKTM58:140:042 Ruben FariaKTM58:140:043 Marc ComaKTM58:170:073 Marc ComaKTM58:170:0721 Ruben FariaKTM1:37:071 Isidre EsteveKTM2:37:242 Isidre EsteveKTM1:38:141:072 Marc ComaKTM2:37:320:083 David CasteuKTM1:38:351:283 Hélder RodriguesYamaha2:38:320:4331 Andy CaldecottKTM3:21:111 Cyril DespresKTM6:03:122 Andy GriderKTM3:24:153:042 Marc ComaKTM6:04:281:163 Cyril DespresKTM3:24:173:063 Jose Manuel PellicerKTM6:04:521:3941 Isidre EsteveKTM4:13:011 Marc ComaKTM10:17:572 Marc ComaKTM4:13:290:282 Isidre EsteveKTM10:22:484:513 Carlo de GavardoKTM4:18:165:153 Cyril DespresKTM10:23:035:0651 Cyril DespresKTM3:47:401 Marc ComaKTM14:09:182 Marc ComaKTM3:51:213:412 Cyril DespresKTM14:10:431:253 Isidre Esteve KTM3:52:585:183 Isidre Esteve KTM14:15:466:2861 Carlo de GavardoKTM4:00:321 Marc ComaKTM18:15:452 Giovanni SalaKTM4:03:553:232 Cyril DespresKTM18:19:283:433 Isidre Esteve KTM4:01:243:523 Isidre Esteve KTM18:20:104:2571 Carlo de GavardoKTM6:28:111 Marc ComaKTM24:45:232 Marc ComaKTM6:29:381:272 Carlo de GavardoKTM24:49:534:303 Giovanni SalaKTM6:30:112:003 Isidre Esteve KTM24:52:507:2781 David CasteuKTM5:55:551 Marc ComaKTM30:49:202 Chris BlaisKTM5:55:082:132 Isidre Esteve KTM30:55:436:233 Cyril DespresKTM5:58:122:173 Carlo de GavardoKTM31:01:0911:4991 Cyril DespresKTM7:55:481 Marc ComaKTM38:49:152 Marc ComaKTM7:59:554:072 Cyril DespresKTM39:12:0222:473 Hélder RodriguesYamaha8:02:487:003 Giovanni SalaKTM39:42:1953:0410Stage cancelled due to death of Andy Caldecott111 Alain DuclosKTM3:16:401 Marc ComaKTM42:07:222 Marc ComaKTM3:18:071:272 Cyril DespresKTM42:41:4634:243 Jonah StreetKTM3:23:196:393 Giovanni SalaKTM43:14:231:07:01121 Cyril DespresKTM4:52:141 Marc ComaKTM47:01:212 Marc ComaKTM4:53:491:452 Cyril DespresKTM47:34:0032:393 Chris BlaisKTM4:54:432:293 Giovanni SalaKTM48:46:361:45:15131 Giovanni SalaKTM5:03:491 Marc ComaKTM52:09:452 Cyril DespresKTM5:07:013:122 Cyril DespresKTM52:41:0131:163 Alain DuclosKTM5:07:213:323 Giovanni SalaKTM53:50:251:40:40141 David FrétignéYamaha3:16:591 Marc ComaKTM55:27:172 Marc ComaKTM3:17:320:332 Cyril DespresKTM56:40:461:13:293 Gerard FarrésYamaha3:33:5816:593 Giovanni SalaKTM57:57:052:29:4815Stage not timed
Notes: — Ruben Faria was awarded a 12-minute penalty for failing to complete the opening stage (including liaison) within the time limit, denying him the lead of the overall classification.
Cars Sainz riding VW Race Touareg won the first stage from Lisbon to Portimão, and also the second stage. Jean-Louis Schlesser, winner of the event in 1999 and 2000, riding Schlesser-Ford Buggy, won the third stage between Nador to Er Rachidia in Morocco, with Nani Roma on Mitsubishi Pajero Evo taking the overall lead. Sainz won the fourth stage and took the overall lead. Stephane Peterhansel, winner in 2004 and 2005, won the fifth stage while Sainz held on to the overall lead. Giniel de Villiers moved into the lead, 22 seconds ahead of Sainz, after the sixth stage from Tan Tan to Zouerat, which was won by Thierry Magnaldi. Stephane Peterhansel won the seventh stage between Zouerat and Atar in Mauritania but Luc Alphand, who took second place, moved into the overall lead. Stephane Peterhansel moved into the lead after finishing third in the eighth stage, which was won by Thierry Magnaldi.
Peterhansel won the ninth stage between Nouakchott and Kiffa in Mauritania to extend his lead; however, his win was overshadowed by the death of Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott in an accident. The tenth stage was won by Sainz with overall leader Stephane Peterhansel third. Peterhansel's overall lead was reduced after he finished 11th in the eleventh stage behind winner Giniel de Villiers. Peterhansel lost time after hitting a tree during a duststorm in the twelfth stage, which was won by Luc Alphand who took the overall lead. Alphand also won the thirteenth stage between Guinea and Senegal, which was marred by the death of a 10-year-old boy who was hit by a car as he crossed the road. He retained the overall lead after the fourteenth stage, which was won by Guerlain Chicherit; a second child was killed after reportedly being hit by a support lorry. The final stage was not timed as a mark of respect for the three deaths. The rally was won by Luc Alphand.
Stage result General classification Stage PosCompetitorMakeTimeGap PosCompetitorMakeTimeGap11 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen56:201 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen56:202 Carlos Sousa Jean-Marie LurquinNissan57:501:302 Carlos Sousa Jean-Marie LurquinNissan57:501:303 Bruno Saby Michel PérinVolkswagen58:111:513 Bruno Saby Michel PérinVolkswagen58:111:5121 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen1:34:281 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen2:30:482 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi1:34:530:252 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi2:34:333:453 Nasser Al-Attiyah Alain GuehennecBMW1:34:560:283 Nani Roma Henri MagneMitsubishi2:35:024:1431 Jean-Louis Schlesser François BorsottoSchlesser-Ford2:50:581 Nani Roma Henri MagneMitsubishi5:27:342 Hiroshi Masuoka Pascal MaimonMitsubishi2:51:170:192 Hiroshi Masuoka Pascal MaimonMitsubishi5:27:400:063 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi2:51:350:373 Bruno Saby Michel PérinVolkswagen5:28:280:5441 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen3:52:481 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen9:21:182 Thierry Magnaldi Arnaud DebronSchlesser-Ford3:54:482:002 Bruno Saby Michel PérinVolkswagen9:26:094:513 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi3:55:583:103 Jutta Kleinschmidt Fabrizia PonsVolkswagen9:26:275:0951 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi3:34:401 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen13:04:572 Mark Miller Dirk von ZitzewitzVolkswagen3:35:521:122 Jutta Kleinschmidt Fabrizia PonsVolkswagen13:06:251:283 Nani Roma Henri MagneMitsubishi3:37:002:203 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi13:07:042:0761 Thierry Magnaldi Arnaud DebronSchlesser-Ford3:22:541 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen16:33:582 Jean-Louis Schlesser François BorsottoSchlesser-Ford3:25:492:552 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen16:34:200:223 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen3:26:403:463 Jutta Kleinschmidt Fabrizia PonsVolkswagen16:34:320:3471 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi5:52:181 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi22:32:412 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi5:56:414:232 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi22:35:533:123 Jutta Kleinschmidt Fabrizia PonsVolkswagen6:02:0711:493 Jutta Kleinschmidt Fabrizia PonsVolkswagen22:38:395:5881 Thierry Magnaldi Arnaud DebronSchlesser-Ford5:00:561 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi27:43:412 Mark Miller Dirk von ZitzewitzVolkswagen5:07:486:522 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi27:44:130:323 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi5:07:486:523 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen28:09:5726:1691 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi6:52:451 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi34:36:262 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi7:01:298:442 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi34:45:429:163 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen7:20:4528:003 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen35:30:4254:16101 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen3:28:341 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi38:09:582 Nani Roma Henri MagneMitsubishi3:32:424:082 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi38:50:0240:043 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi3:33:324:583 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen39:13:151:03:17111 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen3:07:011 Stéphane Peterhansel Jean-Paul CottretMitsubishi41:37:572 Bruno Saby Michel PérinVolkswagen3:12:345:332 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi42:03:0625:093 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi3:13:046:033 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen42:20:1642:19121 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi4:22:461 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi46:25:522 Guerlain Chicherit Mathieu BaumelBMW4:23:420:562 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen46:46:2320:313 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen4:26:073:213 Nani Roma Henri MagneMitsubishi47:46:381:20:46131 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi4:30:151 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi50:56:072 Carlos Sainz Andreas SchulzVolkswagen4:31:050:502 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen51:18:2022:133 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen4:31:571:423 Nani Roma Henri MagneMitsubishi52:28:381:32:31141 Guerlain Chicherit Mathieu BaumelBMW2:36:331 Luc Alphand Gilles PicardMitsubishi53:47:322 Alfie Cox Ralph PitchfordBMW2:39:463:132 Giniel de Villiers Tina ThörnerVolkswagen54:05:2517:533 Mark Miller Dirk von ZitzewitzVolkswagen2:41:405:073 Nani Roma Henri MagneMitsubishi55:38:101:50:3815Stage not timed
Trucks Vladimir Chagin riding Kamaz won the truck category, second was Hans Stacey on MAN, and third was Firdaus Kabirov on Kamaz.