Since its creation in 1978, the popularity of the Dakar Rally has grown stronger and stronger every year. But this unique event has always remained loyal to its founding values: a unique sporting competition in the heart of Africa, experienced by all, amateurs and professionals alike, as an extraordinary human adventure.

This year's route follows some of the world's most testing yet breath-taking terrain from Portugal, through Spain and into the gateway to Africa, Morocco, where the competitors came face to face with desert riding for the first time. They then raced deeper into the continent through Mauritania, Mali and Guinea before finally ending their treacherous journey in Senegal. 2006 attracted some of the greatest names in motorsport, including Cyril Despres, Stephane Peterhansel and Luc Alphand. 240 motorcycles, 188 cars, 80 trucks left Lisbon, but with less than 40 per cent on average making it to the finish each year, no-one’s fate was guaranteed.

Excitingly, navigation regained its status on the 2006 Dakar and meant the difference between success and failure, triumph and disaster. This year competitors only had three sources of information: the hidden waypoints, the road-book and the direction followed, pushing racers to the limits of their endurance and survival capabilities. Through a dramatic variety of landscapes, including snow-capped peaks, dunes, oases, redlands and spectacular river crossings, this fully loaded review follows teams through their ups and downs, joys and pains to deliver the ultimate adventure on DVD.