Idman.biz
The Dakar Rally, considered the world's toughest and most dangerous race, will be held for the 48th time this year and Saudi Arabia will host it for the seventh consecutive time. The rally will start with the preliminary stage in Yanbu and end on January 17 with the 13th stage in the same city.
İdman.Biz reports that in the race, the total distance of which is about 8,000 kilometers together with inter-stage connections, the pilots will compete for the championship by covering a distance of approximately 5,000 kilometers. The route stretches from the shores of the Arabian Peninsula to the sand dunes, from the mountainous regions to the Rub' al Khali desert.
As in recent years, a two-day marathon stage will be implemented this time as well. Drivers will spend the night in desert camps and continue the race with limited equipment and food.
The most successful pilot in Dakar history is Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel. He has won a total of 14 championships, eight in the car category and six in the motorcycle category.
Last year, Saudi Yazid Al-Rajhi won in the car category, and Australian Daniel Sanders in the motorcycle class. This year, well-known names such as Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Seth Quintero in cars, and Kevin Benavides, Ricky Brabec and Tosha Schareina in motorcycles will join the competition.
Nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb, who has been participating in the Dakar Rally since 2016, will also compete for the title this time.
It should be noted that 33 pilots have died in various accidents in the races held since 1979. In general, in addition to athletes, approximately 50 people - journalists, organization employees and spectators - have died during events related to the race.
The Dakar Rally was held in Africa for many years, moved to South America in 2009 for security reasons, and has been organized in Saudi Arabia since 2020. The founder of the race, Thierry Sabine, also died in an accident during Dakar in 1986.
