1988 Paris–Dakar Rally

{{Short description|Off-road motorsport event in Europe and Africa}}

{{Motorsport season

|title = Dakar Rally

|link = Paris–Dakar Rally

|year = 1988

}}

File:Kopřivnice - Muzeum nákladních automobilů Tatra, Tatra 815 4x4 Dakar 1988 obr01.jpg

1988 Dakar Rally also known as the 1988 Paris–Dakar Rally was the 10th running of the Dakar Rally event. 311 cars, 183 motorcycles, and 109 trucks started the rally.{{cite web|url=http://www.dakar.com/2009/DAK/presentation/docs/histo_1979_2007_us.pdf |title=History of Dakar - RETROSPECTIVE 1979-2007 |publisher=Dakar |accessdate=2009-01-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708222829/http://www.dakar.com/2009/DAK/presentation/docs/histo_1979_2007_us.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-08 }} The rally was won by Juha Kankkunen, the motorcycle category was won by Edi Orioli, and the truck category was won by Karel Loprais on a Tatra 815.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/13/world/dangerous-paris-dakar-race-is-endangered.html?sq=%22Dakar+Rally%22&scp=18&st=cse |title= Dangerous Paris-Dakar Race Is Endangered |last=Brooke|first=James|date=13 March 1988|work=New York Times|accessdate=2009-03-01}} The event was marred by the death of six people, three participants, a mother and child killed in Mauritania when a camera car ran into a group of spectators, and a 10-year-old girl killed crossing the road in Mali.

In addition, the rally leader Ari Vatanen's Peugeot 405 was allegedly stolen in Bamako, and would only be returned if a ransom of 25 million francs CFA was paid. The car was eventually found, but it was too late to rejoin the race.{{Cite web|title=1988: The desperate Peugeot search (28/40)|url=https://www.dakar.com/en/news/2018/1988-the-desperate-peugeot-search-28-40|access-date=2020-07-14|website=www.dakar.com|language=en}}