Dating back all the way to 1978, the Dakar Rally has been a staple in long distance endurance off-road racing. Thierry Sabine created a race that not only tested the vehicles, but the mind set of the people participating.

The Dakar Rally has moved locations over the years and never once under achieving the goal set by Sabine many years ago, “A challenge for those who go. A dream for those who stay behind.” The legacy and rally continues in 2016, and looks to set the year off right.

The 2016 Dakar Rally takes place from January 2nd to the 16th covering land from Bolivia to Argentina. The teams will only have one rest day on the 10th, to try and catch there breath before continuing on attempting to complete the race.

There are four different classes that one can enter in the rally – bike, quad, car, and truck. The car and truck classes can be a little different for those new to Dakar. The truck class is made up of vehicles weighing more than 7,716 pounds. Kamaz, Iveco, MAN, Tatra, Hino, DAF, Perlini, and Mercedes Benz are manufactures that take place in this class.

More familiar truck classes like Trophy Trucks would be considered part of the car class. One of the most popular United States entries, Robby Gordon, will once again be taking on the Dakar Rally in Gordini. He has competed in the rally the last couple of years, and looks to add an overall win to his extensive resume.

Stay tuned to Off Road Xtreme as we will provide updates along the way of the extreme rally race. What class is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!