Produced and directed by Russ Malkin, Race to Dakar is a documentary series following actor and keen motorcyclist Charley Boorman’s entry into the 2006 Dakar Rally from Lisbon to Dakar. It also stars Simon Pavey.

One of Boorman’s lifelong dreams was to enter the Dakar Rally. He contacted Simon Pavey to see if he was interested in  training him and making the documentary together. The team went to Dubai to train on the dunes so they would have experience riding on the sand. Boor

They entered the rally riding BMW F650RR rally bikes. During the rally, Boorman crashed and broke bones in one hand, and dislocated the thumb in the other when he fell and tried to push his bike up and off his body. The series focuses on the mental and the emotional battles during which Boorman tries to rationalize his failure. He rode on to the end of the stage and chose to withdraw. Pavey finished the event. The team were met at Dakar by their spouses and girlfriends, as well as Charley’s best friend Ewan McGregor, who flew out to congratulate them.