Madness in the Desert: The Paris to Dakar Story

"Brilliant story brilliantly told"

In 1977 French motorcyclist Thierry Sabine was in serious trouble, lost in the Libyan Desert and dying from thirst. Whilst most men would weep and think back over their lives, Thierry thought about coming back - to do a rally across the Sahara Desert. The 9000km Paris-Dakar, the world's craziest race, was born. The rally became a beacon for eccentric adventurers battling the terrain in customised vehicles, seduced by the romance of the desert and the extreme challenge. It soon became a victim of its own rapid success, shrouded in controversy, overwhelmed by corporate interests, responsible for over 60 deaths and decreed vulgar by the Vatican. Finally, in 2008, this incredible event was brought to an end by terrorism. This is the story of the biggest motorsport event the world has ever seen and one of the greatest challenges of human endeavour ever conceived, from those that took part. How the West took on a landscape of incredible beauty and scale. And lost.

Loading countdown...

Life in the Andes

1952

Seeing Ceylon

1952

The Farthest

The Farthest

2018

Dog by Dog

2015

Relatively Free

Relatively Free

2016

Stacey on the Front Line: Girls, Guns and Isis

Stacey on the Front Line: Girls, Guns and Isis

2017

Beuys

Beuys

2017

Almost Heaven

Almost Heaven

2017

Ancient India

1952

Pretoria to Durban

1952

Calling on Cape Town

1952

Man on the Run

Man on the Run

2023

The CEO of Sinaloa

The CEO of Sinaloa

2021

Voyage dans les abysses

Voyage dans les abysses

2016

Face Down

Face Down

2023

Pierre Bonnard: A Love Exposed

Pierre Bonnard: A Love Exposed

1998

Biological Loneliness

Biological Loneliness

2021

Ruja

Ruja

1982

Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Light the Fire Within

Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Light the Fire Within

2002

Inside the Wandering Earth Ⅱ

Inside the Wandering Earth Ⅱ

2024