Dakar car catches fire before the rally begins

The Dakar Rally has proven too much of a challenge for one of the cars taking part, even before the event officially begins!

While the gruelling endurance event doesn't start officially until 1 January, the preparatory shakedowns and tests took out the Rebellion buggy of Alexander Pesci - the President of Rebellion who was supposed to be taking part in the event for the third time.

His Rebellion Motors DXX buggy caught fire, burning out completely. An explanation for the fire is yet to be confirmed by the team, which are down to just one entrant for the rally, with Romain Dumas driving the other buggy.