Thierry Sabine

Thierry Sabine (13 June 1949, Neuilly-sur-Seine – 14 January 1986, Mali) was a French wrangler, motorcycle racer and founder and main organizer of the Dakar Rally.

Career In 1977 Sabine got lost on the Tchigai Plateau, near the isolated mountain of Emi Fezzan during the Abidjan-Nice Race, and realized that the desert would be a good location for a rally where amateurs could test their ability. In December 1977 he established a race from Paris to Dakar and devoted the rest of his life to its organization. His motto for the Dakar Rally was, "A challenge for those who go. A dream for those who stay behind."

Sabine was noted for the care he took over the competitors, which was exemplified during the 1983 running of the event. That year, the route crossed the as-yet-unexplored Ténéré region of the Sahara and 40 competitors became lost when a sandstorm struck. He spent four days flying over the region and was able to direct all lost competitors toward the correct route. Nicole Maitrot, a competitor the previous year, said of him: "One has the impression that Thierry Sabine is God looking over his sheep from up in his helicopter, coming down in a swirl of airplane to help those who are lost." Sabine's ashes were later scattered at the Lost Tree in Niger, which the rally thereafter described as the "Arbre Thierry Sabine".

He was featured in the movie A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later released in 1986.

Racing record Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1975 P. Dagoreau(private entrant) Philippe Dagoreau Jean-Pierre Aeschlimann Porsche 911 Carrera RSGT285 17th 3rd 1976 ASA Cachia Philippe Dagoreau Jean-Claude Andruet Porsche 911 Carrera RSRGr.5SP288 13th 6th 1977 L. Meznarie(private entrant) Jean Bélin Porsche 911 Carrera RSRGr.5SP –DNQ

Complete Tour de France Automobile results