The Dakar breaks new ground for the Porsche 911; never before has the legendary sports car been offered in such off-road focused form from the factory. Just 2,500 will be made, 250 are coming to the UK, and you don’t have to have the livery - phew.

But where to test such a thing? The Dakar clearly not a track-focused 911, though neither is it - really - a dedicated off-road vehicle, despite approach and departure angles that can rival a Cayenne. Enter Lydden Hill, Britain’s best-known rallycross track and location of the world’s first rallycross race in 1967. Won, you’ve guessed it, by a Porsche 911. Driven by Vic Elford, no less.

So the Kent circuit was the ideal place to drive the Dakar, testing its prowess on the tarmac and in the mud. And in the freezing rain, it turned out. Is there real off-road ability to the rally raid 911? Or is it simply a case of style over substance? Over to Matt to find out.

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Read the full Porsche 911 Dakar review on PH: https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-d...