French legend Stéphane Peterhansel stands unchallenged with eight victories, solidifying his status as the unparalleled king of desert endurance racing – Here is a list of Dakar Rally winners by year from 1979 to present.
As the rally celebrates its 48th edition—relocated to the Arabian Peninsula since 2020—the all-time car category winners list remains a testament to human grit, mechanical innovation, and strategic mastery.
No discussion of Dakar Rally car wins commands attention like Peterhansel’s odyssey, the rider-turned-driver whose eight car triumphs eclipse all peers, blending motorcycle-honed instincts with automotive dominance across Mitsubishi (2004, 2005, 2007), Mini (2012, 2013, 2021), and Peugeot (2016, 2017).
Trailing Peterhansel’s eight are luminaries like Nasser Al-Attiyah with five wins (2011, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023) and Carlos Sainz Sr. with four wins (2010, 2018, 2020, 2024).
Dakar Rally winners by year
| Year | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Yazeed Al-Rajhi | Toyota Hilux Overdrive |
| 2024 | Carlos Sainz Sr. | Audi RS Q e-tron |
| 2023 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Toyota GR DKR Hilux |
| 2022 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Toyota GR DKR Hilux |
| 2021 | Stephane Peterhansel | Mini John Cooper Works Buggy |
| 2020 | Carlos Sainz Sr. | Mini John Cooper Works Buggy |
| 2019 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Toyota Hilux |
| 2018 | Carlos Sainz Sr. | Peugeot 3008 DKR Maxi |
| 2017 | Stephane Peterhansel | Peugeot 3008 DKR |
| 2016 | Stephane Peterhansel | Peugeot 2008 DKR |
| 2015 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Mini All 4 Racing |
| 2014 | Nani Roma | Mini All 4 Racing |
| 2013 | Stephane Peterhansel | Mini All 4 Racing |
| 2012 | Stephane Peterhansel | Mini All 4 Racing |
| 2011 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Volkswagen Touareg 3 |
| 2010 | Carlos Sainz Sr. | Volkswagen Touareg 2 |
| 2009 | Giniel de Villiers | Volkswagen Touareg 2 |
| 2008 | Not held | Not held |
| 2007 | Stephane Peterhansel | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2006 | Luc Alphand | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2005 | Stephane Peterhansel | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2004 | Stephane Peterhansel | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2003 | Hiroshi Masuoka | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2002 | Hiroshi Masuoka | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2001 | Jutta Kleinschmidt | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2000 | Jean-Louis Schlesser | Schlesser-Renault |
| 1999 | Jean-Louis Schlesser | Schlesser-Renault |
| 1998 | Jean-Pierre Fontenay | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 1997 | Kenjiro Shinozuka | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 1996 | Pierre Lartigue | Citroën ZX |
| 1995 | Pierre Lartigue | Citroën ZX |
| 1994 | Pierre Lartigue | Citroën ZX |
| 1993 | Bruno Saby | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 1992 | Hubert Auriol | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 1991 | Ari Vatanen | Citroën ZX |
| 1990 | Ari Vatanen | Peugeot 405 T16 |
| 1989 | Ari Vatanen | Peugeot 405 T16 |
| 1988 | Juha Kankkunen | Peugeot 205 T16 |
| 1987 | Ari Vatanen | Peugeot 205 T16 |
| 1986 | Rene Metge | Porsche 959 |
| 1985 | Patrick Zaniroli | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 1984 | Rene Metge | Range Rover |
| 1983 | Jacky Ickx | Mercedes 280 G |
| 1982 | Claude Marreau | Renault 20 |
| 1981 | Rene Metge | Range Rover |
| 1980 | Freddy Kottulinsky | Volkswagen Iltis |
| 1979 | Alain Genestier | Range Rover |
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