AFRICA IS VAST in every way imaginable—lots of land, lots of people, and vast natural resources. Roughly 1.4 billion people live there, but many Americans know little about its geography. Dakar, for instance, isn’t just the capital of Senegal, it’s also the westernmost large city on the continent. And now it’s a name Porsche has appended to the newest 911 model.
A few months ago, Porsche asked me this: “Would you like to fly to Morocco and drive the new 911 Dakar in the Sahara on some of the course once used for the Paris-Dakar Rally?” Already fascinated by Porsche’s heritage and success with 911s in that epic rally through Europe and North Africa, I answered without hesitation. That you’re reading this story indicates my response. I was about to learn a little about Africa and a lot about the latest 911.
Some privileged motorsport-grade names—Walter Röhrl, Jacky Ickx—have driven 911s in rallies, from rear-drive variants (on which a Keen Project Safari is modeled) to the beloved 953 and the spectacular 959. Maybe you haven’t heard of the 953— it ran the Paris-Dakar Rally only once, in 1984, with René Metge piloting it to victory. It used the 911’s first experimental four-wheel-drive system, which evolved into the civilian 911 Carrera 4.
Denne historien er fra June - July 2023-utgaven av Road & Track.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June - July 2023-utgaven av Road & Track.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
TURD ON THE RUN
IN THE LATE SIXTIES, THE ROLLING STONES BUILT A MOBILE RECORDING STUDIO ON THE BACK OF A FARM TRUCK AND CHANGED MUSIC FOREVER.
I Got a Guy..
There exist people with very particular sets of skills. Skills acquired over long careers. Skills that make them a godsend for people like us. They are the specialists.
LONG TAILS
THE BEAUTIFUL AND BIZARRE RACE CARS DESIGNED TO CONQUER A SINGLE STRIP OF PAVEMENT.
EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
Winner, Over $100,000: Porsche Taycan Turbo GT
THE GREAT PRETENDER
Winner, Under $100,000: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
BREAKS, NOT BENDS
SINGER'S DIVETRACK TELLS A VERY NICHE KIND OF TIME.
RADIAL FLYER
A MEYERS MANX WITH AN AIRPLANE ENGINE IS A WEIRD FIX FOR SPEED ADDICTION.
THE BALLAD OF CRAZY ROCKETMAN
WHAT A BUILDER OF PULSE-JET-ENGINE VEHICLES CAN TELL US ABOUT MOTORING PASSION.
SOCIETÀ UTOPICA
THE PAGANI UTOPIA IS MORE THAN JUST A CAR. IT'S A HANDCRAFTED INVITATION TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST EXCLUSIVE MOTORING CLUBS.
ST.ELMO'S FIRE
AN INDIANAPOLIS RESTAURANT WITH FACEMELTING SHRIMP HAS BEEN A DE FACTO RACING CLUBHOUSE FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.
