The format of the rally was revised for 2002 with the introduction of two-day stages and two stages without the use of navigation aids.

[1] The race started in Arras in northern France on 28 December 2001 and finished at Dakar in Senegal on 13 January 2002.

[1] The 1999 and 2000 winner, Jean-Louis Schlesser, switched from a petrol powered vehicle to a diesel powered one in a bid to make the vehicle lighter[2][3] However, he was forced to retire from the rally during the sixth stage from Er-Rachidia to Ouarzazate in Morocco while lying 11th overall when his vehicle caught fire.

[3] Japanese driver Hiroshi Masuoka took the lead at the sixth stage,[4] and went on to win the rally.

[5] The motorcycle category was won by Fabrizio Meoni for the second successive year.