Photo: The winning trucks at Dakar 1989, the 1st place went to Tatra 4×4, and the 2nd place to the compatriots from Liaz
And Karel Loprais linked his fate to the Tatra in a way that only happened once before. This driver participated with Tatra trucks in the Dakar and in the following years, starting from 1990, without interruption, until the year 2006. From 1986 to 2006, he participated in 20 editions of the Dakar rally with Tatra trucks and brought all the 6 victories that the manufacturer Tatra has ever won! In addition to the victory in 1988, he also won in 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2001, so including the most difficult years for Tatra, when bankruptcy seemed inevitable. In 2006, at his last participation, Karel Loprais was almost 57 years old, an age at which few dare to endure such motorsport challenges.
