French enduro and Dakar Rally legend, Hubert Auriol has died at the age of 68.
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Auriol, three-time winner of the Dakar Rally, became the first person to win the famous race on both two wheels and four.
According to AFP, the former racer passed away on Sunday, after a long illness.
Auriol was among the participants of the inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally in 1979, and his first stage victory came just a year later in 1980, and then the first of two outright wins on a motorcycle for BMW in 1981. His second victory on a motorcycle came in 1983.
A Dakar competitor, a three-time Dakar winner, a Dakar Director and a Dakar legend. Hubert Auriol passed away today.
His Dakar story ?#DakarLegendpic.twitter.com/nutyjpamv2
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 10, 2021
Auriol switched to cars in 1988, and four years later won as part of the Mitsubishi team.
“He inspired generations of riders and drivers and has been an integral part of the rally throughout its history,” a statement from organisers reads, who tweeted a video in tribute to Auriol’s career.
