Karel Loprais, six-time Dakar Rally winner, dies at age 72

Czech rally driver Karel Loprais, a six-time winner of the Dakar Rally in the truck category, has died at the age of 72. He last took part in the race in 2006, together with his nephew Aleš Loprais.

Loprais started working at Tatra Trucks as a factory worker in 1967 and later become a test driver. He took part in the Dakar Rally for the first time in 1986 and placed 11 times.

He was the third-most successful Dakar participant of all time, after Stéphane Peterhansel of France and Vladimir Chagin of Russia.