Everyone was amazed by them in Dakar: from a car found in a barn, to the legendary Audi Quattro

At the Dakar bivouac, current prototypes such as Ford, Dacia, Mini or Toyota of the top category, the impressive T1+, share camp with historic vehicles. With just a few steps and heading to one end of the camp, it is possible to go back in time and let yourself be carried away by the roar of the engines of iconic, unique cars, which speak of nostalgia, of the amazing past period , but also shows the enormous evolution that motor sport has experienced in recent years.

We refer to the Dakar Classic category, a great success of the Dakar organization, ASO, which launched this class 5 years ago, ideal for recovering the beauty of cars with history and returning them to the competition, as well which is also creating a new window of opportunity.

In 2025, in its fifth edition, the Dakar Classic is the second category with the most participants, with a total of 96 cars, in which there are real gems. There are two Citroën 2CV models, a team with four Audi Quattros, iconic Peugeots and Porsches, and above all, a Catalan crew like Carlos Santaolalla and Jan Rosa, who want to repeat last year’s success with a Toyota if where Jacky Ickx fought the Dakar.

Dorsal 721, Ernst Amort and his Peugeot 504 Coupé:

Ernst Amort drives the car of his co-driver Adi Ruhaltinger. Both are aware that it is not a vehicle that will allow them to win, but their desire is to run the Dakar with a “true classic vehicle”, as in the case of their Peugeot 504, in which they have made several modifications such as a gearbox that is shorter, a reinforced clutch and lightens the weight of the car.

Number 730, Patrice Auzet and his Renault 30: Patrice Auzet

Two French friends found an old Renault 30 in a barn and didn’t hesitate to turn it into a racing car. This car competed in the 1981 Dakar and was restored with the same colors and appearance as the third edition of the Dakar.

Number 762: Denis Fercoq and his Peugeot 205

Denis Fercoq is enthusiastic about the 105 GTI. In fact, he owns about 15 cars like this. When he retired, he spent a year creating the 205 for the Dakar with the same appearance as the 205 T16 Group B of the World Rally Championship, which eventually came to the Dakar in 1987.

Dorsal 706, Axel Berrier and his Porsche

This French businessman, who lives in Dubai, sold his perfume business to pursue his dreams in races like the Dakar Classic. It competes with a Gulf-sponsored Porsche 706 called ‘Marguerite’ and is resplendent in its orange and sky blue colours. His co-driver, Jérémy Athimon, is a Porsche restorer, specializing in 911s.

Dorsal 700: Carlos Santaolalla and Jan Rosa and their Toyota HDJ80

Catalans Carlos Santaolalla and Jan Rosa defended their Dakar Classic crown with their Toyota HDJ80, a car owned by Jacky Ickx. The car bears the iconic stamp as the papers show that the legendary Belgian driver competed in it.

Number 702: Juan Morera and his Porsche 959 Dakar

Juan Morera and his wife Lidia Ruba are champions of Dakar 2023. Last year they fought for victory and this year, when they were in the fight, they had to leave. His car is, without a doubt, one of the most photographed. A very good 275 hp Porsche 956

A team with four Audi Quattros:

They are without a doubt one of the stars of this Dakar Classic. Pilots like Sainz and most of the camp came to see them from time to time. It is not for less. The Dutch team “Dutch Quattro Legend” appeared in Dakar with four replicas of the 1985 Audi Quattro Rally S1 Dakar They have a 5-cylinder, 20-valve Audi engine with more than 500 horsepower. Wonderful.