The first game title in the Dakar series comprises a journey across North Africa, from the jungle on the coast, through savannah and scrub to rolling sand dunes and the wonders of Egypt. This provides an exciting and diverse range of stages, interspersed with dramatic short clips from actual past rallies.

Whether it's racing across the desert, speeding through the jungle, or charging around a mountain side with rock on side and nothing but air on the other, it's going to take skill, nerve and reactions to make it to the winner's podium.

Hazards - Many obstacles will block and stifle your route

• Pot holes cause bone jarring effects and will eventually cause your suspension to collapse.
• Appearances can be deceptive. Tumbleweed should be avoided because if enough of them hit your windscreen, it will crack and eventually shatter. Without a windscreen, you'll be vulnerable to the sandstorms, dust devils or tornadoes and will need to repair at the next Way-station.
• Fallen trees will block your path but slaloming between them at a slow speed will cost you time.
• Rocks are a dangerous enemy and can wreck your sump, crush your suspension or crack your axle. Try to maintain a high speed but it will take skill to swerve around them.
• Road ruts may seem like a good guide but hit them at an angle and they can damage our suspension. Follow them and you could ground the underside of your vehicle and hole your sump.
• Mud patches will slow you down and could cost you the race if you lose too much time.

Obstacles - Larger obstacles litter the roads ahead

• When ravines appear, you'd better make sure you're travelling fast enough to make the other side. If you fall short, you'll career down the steep slope to the ravine floor and having to circle back. It'll all cost you time you can't afford.
• Rock falls clutter the mountain roads and you can never be quite sure where they'll appear. A 4x4 vehicle can drive off road and drive around them but a buggy may need to find an alternate route further back.
• Collapsed bridges with water flowing beneath may not be safe. You'll need to judge if part of the bridge is still usable or if you'll need to find another route?

Maintenance - Maintain your vehicle, take care of your self

Keep an eye on your stamina. You will need to top up on food and water as you race.

Way stations on the salt plains will allow you to effect repairs. You'll need to use the G.P.S. compass to guide you there but the plains come with the possibilities of flash-flooding.

System Requirements:

Win9x/Me/00 (with DirectX), Direct3D