Paris-Dakar 1980 training (Frères Marreau and Martine de Cortanze) - Epic and Wild !

The original Paris-Dakar with the magnificent Renaul 4L. The Marreau brothers finished 3rd the previous unaugural year and then won in 1982 with a Renault R20 beating Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur !!

[@BanjoLuke1]

I'd read about these early P-D races but this training footage is remarkable.
That 4L 4x4 is a work of art.
Somehow, something was lost with the passing of those simpler days, when an R4 4x4 with a Gr.2 R5 Gordini engine was competitive.
Wonderful footage.

[@pierreptg]

@ 1:44, the poor Martine de Cortanze, known back then as the "Queen of sand, water and outer space", getting splashed by the Marreau borthers but still keeping her good sense of humor.

[@pierreptg]

@ 0:03 the passenger door of the 4L gets briefly opened.