Person Biography:
Hubert Auriol was a French professional off-road motorcyclist and auto racer who competed in rally raid events. Born on June 7, 1952, in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, he began competing in motocross and enduro events in 1973.
Auriol's impressive career spanned over two decades, during which he participated in The Paris-Dakar rally from 1979 to 1994. He won the event on motorcycles in 1981 and 1983, and in automobiles in 1992. He was the first competitor to win the Dakar rally on both motorcycles and automobiles.
In 1987, Auriol suffered a severe injury during the penultimate day of the rally, breaking both his ankles while he was in the lead. He wrote a book with French journalist Jean-Michel Caradec'h about this experience, titled "Paris Dakar. Une histoire d'hommes".
Auriol's transition to the automobile class in 1988 marked a new chapter in his career. He won the event in 1992 with a Citroën ZX Rallye Raid, co-driven by Philippe Monnet. He then joined Dakar organizer ASO and became the race director of the event, a position he held until 2004.
After leaving ASO, Auriol founded the Africa Eco Race in 2008. He lived in Suresnes with his wife and three children, and was not related to former World Rally Champion Didier Auriol.
Tragically, Auriol passed away on January 10, 2021, at the age of 68, due to complications from COVID-19 and a cardiac arrest. His legacy as a pioneering rally driver and race director continues to inspire and influence the world of off-road motor sports.
