The toughest challenges are not just the most difficult to conquer, but also the most satisfying. Motul faces - and conquers - such challenges through its partnerships in competitive motorsport on a weekly basis, but the Dakar Rally is one of the most gruelling known to man and machine.

The 2017 edition of the world's biggest motorsport event for off-road drivers and riders takes place from 2-14 January, travelling against the clock across Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina. The entry list includes almost 30 Motul-supported entries in the two main categories of bikes and cars, representing 16 different markets from countries as diverse as Australia, to Estonia, to South America's own Brazil and Argentina.

The route that will lead the 241 vehicles from the start in Asuncion, Paraguay -   a country new to the rally raid, through to La Paz and finally end in Buenos Aires will cover nearly 9,000 kilometres split over 12 stages -- 4,000 kms of special stages, 1 marathon stage and 6 at super-high altitude of up to 4000m.

Technical know-how

To succeed in such extreme conditions, competitors count 100% on the reliability and technical excellence of the lubricants used in their engines and gearboxes. 

They face extremes of temperatures, from the heat of the desert to the ice of the mountains, the fine 'fesh fesh' sand which permeates every surface, and the endurance element of the very long stages over punishing terrains; there is no room for any medical weakness. 

The bike will use Motul's 300V Factory Line off-road 5W40 and 15W60 oils, and the cars will benefit from Motul's 300V Motorsport Line Power 5W40 or competition 15W50 - all products specially developed and successfully proven for such conditions.

Proudly wearing the red and white...

For the Motul-supported factory HRC Rally team, the Dakar is unfinished buisness and it is out for revenge! The Honda squad is a major contender for victory, and will field a 5-strong international rider line up including such legendary names as Joan Barreda. The Spaniard will be looking to avenge misfortune in the last two years - despite multiple stage wins - as will 2015 Dakar runner up Paulo Goncalves of Portugal and the other talents in the squad. A Motul technical expert from Latin America will be available for support all the Motul teams in Dakar, and will be based with the Honda team throughout the whole 13 day event. 

Another leading contender in the highly competitive Bike category is the Sherco TVS Rally Factory team, tackling its third Dakar Rally and including an Indian rider for the first time - Prabhakar Aravind. Also supports by Motul is the Honda South America Rally Team, the Autonet Motorcycle Team, and the 10-strong HT Husqvarna Rally Raid team which will make its presence known through strength in numbers as well as experience.

The 2016 T3 Light class-winning Xtreme Plus Polaris Racing International factory team returns to the 2017 Dakar with a strong, multi-national squad of six vehicles representing Brazil, Russia, China and France, while the Toyota Auto Body team - multiple T2 category champions - is ready, as last year, to attack the rally with a vengeance with its Japanese and French entries. 

The organisers are calling the 2017 Dakar “the mother of all rally-raids" and the competition will be fiercer than ever before. The heat, dust rocky surfaces and above all, altitude will be the toughest test yet and men, women and machines will be tested to the limit. Will Honda beat KTM? The only thing that is certain is that Motul will be there for them - reliable, proven and successful. Stay tuned for action!