JEDDAH: Over 1,000 race cars and equipment arrived at Yanbu after the two vessels carrying them berthed at King Fahd Industrial Port as preparations for Dakar Rally’s fifth edition in Saudi Arabia are underway.
The vessels sailed toward the Kingdom from Barcelona, and once the offloading process is completed, rally cars and equipment are poised to proceed to the rally’s launch site, according to a media statement on Tuesday.
Participants of the 46th edition of Dakar Rally, the motorsport world’s most famous and challenging rally, are preparing to embark on a new challenge across Saudi Arabia’s picturesque landscapes and explore its distinctive geographical diversity between Jan. 5 and 19, 2024.
The two vessels were loaded with 864 vehicles, five helicopters, and 39 containers, along with support, media, and event organizer vehicles. The Kingdom is fully hosting the event for the fifth consecutive year, with 778 drivers and co-drivers participating.
This year’s rally course consists of a prologue stage and 12 special stages, beginning with a preliminary journey from AlUla’s desert camp before venturing through Al-Henakiyah, Al-Duwadimi, Al-Salamiya, Al-Hofuf, Shubaytah, Riyadh, Hail, and Yanbu.
Participants are expected to start arriving in the Kingdom on Dec. 29 and 30, 2023, with the scrutineering of the participating vehicles scheduled for Jan. 3 and 4, 2024, at the AlUla camp.
The opening ceremony is set for Jan. 4, the prologue stage for Jan. 5, and the first stage of the rally starts on Jan. 6, 2024.
The Dakar Rally 2024 Saudi Arabia will feature 434 vehicles, including 137 motorbikes, 72 race cars, 46 trucks, 42 T3 and 36 T4 lightweight vehicles, alongside 10 quad bikes, 66 classic cars, and 14 classic trucks. Additionally, 10 vehicles will compete in the Dakar Future — Mission 1000 category, comprising one car, one truck, two T3 category vehicles, and six motorbikes.
The Dakar Rally stands as one of the oldest races in motorsports, recognized for its extensive scale, variety of events, and the intense thrill and passion it consistently delivers. It is organized by the Amaury Sport Organization in collaboration with the Saudi Motorsport Co., which operates under the umbrella of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, in coordination with other local authorities.
Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia gears up for its 5th edition
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Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia gears up for its 5th edition
- Participants of the 46th edition of Dakar Rally will embark on a new challenge across Saudi Arabia’s picturesque landscapes
- This year’s rally course consists of a prologue stage and 12 special stages
Final preparations ramp up as Dakar Rally 2026 draws closer
- World’s toughest endurance race scheduled for seventh consecutive year in Kingdom
YANBU: Final preparations for Saudi Arabia’s Dakar Rally 2026 have entered their concluding phase, with less than two weeks to go until the world’s toughest endurance race gets underway in the Kingdom for a seventh consecutive year.
Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Sport and organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation in partnership with the Saudi Motorsport Company, the rally runs from Jan. 3-17 and features 14 race days, including a prologue and 13 competitive stages.
A milestone was reached in logistical operations last week when two vessels carrying rally vehicles and equipment from Barcelona arrived at King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu.
Technical scrutineering for all competing vehicles is scheduled for Jan. 1-2, marking the final step before competition begins.
This year’s event will feature 812 competitors representing 69 nationalities and competing across 433 vehicles in a wide range of categories.
The entry list includes 73 ultimate cars, 118 motorbikes, 46 trucks, 38 challengers, 43 side-by-side vehicles, eight stock vehicles, 75 classic cars, 24 classic trucks, and seven Mission 1000 motorbikes, as well as a Mission 1000 truck, highlighting the rally’s scale and diversity.
The action begins on Saturday, Jan. 3, with a 23-km prologue in Yanbu, followed by Stage 1 on Jan. 4, a 305-km loop starting and finishing in the coastal city.
The route then heads to AlUla for Stages 2 and 3 before continuing through a demanding sequence of desert stages across the Kingdom.
Competitors will race from AlUla to a bivouac refuge on Jan. 7, then to Hail the day after and Riyadh on Jan. 9, ahead of a rest day on Jan. 10.
The second half of the rally resumes with stages through Wadi Al-Dawasir, Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, before the event concludes back in Yanbu on Jan. 17.
Saudi Arabia’s continued hosting of the Dakar Rally underscores its growing status as a global hub for motorsport and international sporting events.
The Kingdom is the only country to host a broad spectrum of elite motorsport competitions, including Formula One, Formula E, the FIA World Rally Championship and Extreme H, alongside the Dakar Rally.
