More than 500 participants from 27 countries are taking part in this rally, which is organised under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in partnership with the Moroccan Sahara Rally Association, from 28 December to 12 January. The categories include motorcycles, 4x4 vehicles, and lightweight desert vehicles.
Covering a distance of nearly 6,000 kilometres over 15 days of competition, the racers cross the deserts of Morocco and Mauritania before reaching Dakar, specifically the Pink Lake, which will host the final stage.
The Morocco stage is considered one of the most important parts of the Africa Eco Race, with a route connecting Tangier to the Kingdom's southern provinces in four stages: the first between Tangier and Tarda (Errachidia) over 755 km, the second from Tarda to Tagounite (Zagora) over 357 km, the third from Tagounite to Touizgui (Assa-Zag) over 547 km, and the fourth from Touizgui to Tarfaya over 507 km.
The competition consists of regular races on tracks featuring rolling and slightly sandy paths, highlighting the endurance and driving skills of the participants.
Additionally, each vehicle is equipped with a satellite tracking system that allows the rally command centre to determine its geographical location, and is fitted with a voice function for communication with the race command centre.
The rally's general coordinator, Anthony Schlesser, stated to the Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) that the participants experienced intense moments during this race, noting that the southern provinces are characterised by stunning landscapes, vast desert expanses, as well as sandy tracks and rocky sections.
Mr. Schlesser added that driving is crucial in this type of terrain, highlighting the fierce competition between participants across the various stages.
For his part, the Secretary General of the Moroccan Sahara Rally Association, Nicolas de Vahia, praised the warm welcome received by the participants, who covered magnificent routes throughout the stages, adding that the suspense experienced by the racers was what distinguished the various categories.
According to the organisers, this rally, across all its rugged race distances, constitutes a true human adventure, where participants live typical atmospheres on new tracks that grant them a pioneering status in the heart of unforgettable landscapes.
