Sandbox games: In Morocco, the World Rally Raid Championship caravan heads into the Sahara

The World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) titles are set to be decided at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (22 to 27 November 2026). However, the event in the United Arab Emirates is currently under close scrutiny due to the tense security situation in the Middle East.

The final round of the World Rally Championship, which was due to take place in Saudi Arabia in November, has already been cancelled due to the security risks. There is now also a big question mark hanging over the staging of the Dakar Rally, which is traditionally held in Saudi Arabia in January, due to the ongoing military conflict.

Sebastien Loeb im Dacia Sandrider: Ganz klein ganz groß in der Wüste

Foto: Red Bull

Given the political situation, the Rally Morocco is now taking on particular significance next week, as, in the worst-case scenario, the World Championship could be decided whilst the rally is still in the African desert.

The Rally Morocco takes place around the oasis town of Zagaro in the south of the country. The desert race begins on 28 September (Monday) with a shakedown in the Atlantic port city of Agadir, before the route leads from there on Tuesday to the edge of the Atlas Mountains and on to Zagaro. From the base camp there, four loops will be run from Wednesday through to Saturday inclusive. The total distance is 2,008 kilometres, of which 1,673 kilometres are timed stages.

Topic of the week

Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring: track – hit or miss?

The people of Madrid had set their sights high for their city’s first Formula 1 World Championship race since 1981. But have the high expectations for the new Madring mixed-circuit track really been met?

Mathias Brunner

Read More

Nasser Al-Attiyah im Dacia will Teamkollegen Loeb schlagen

Foto: Red Bull

Ahead of the fourth round, just three championship points separate Dacia team-mates Sébastien Loeb, on 113 points, and Nasser Al-Attiyah. Al-Attiyah picked up vital points at the start of the year with his sixth Dakar Rally title, but Loeb struck back with a victory at the Rally Raid Portugal. The Alsatian won the Rally of Morocco last year, securing Dacia Rally’s maiden victory.

The results in Morocco could prove decisive in determining who will take over the world championship title in the top ‘Ultimate’ category from Lucas Morares. In the World Championship, Toyota driver Seth Quintero is hot on the heels of the Dacia Sandrider duo with 101 points following his victory in Argentina. Ford driver Nani Roma, on 59 points, and Morares (Dacia) with his German co-driver, on 57 points, round off the top five in the provisional standings.

Henk Lategan im Toyota gehört in Marokko zu erweiterten Favoritenkreis

Foto: Red Bull

The wider circle of favourites for the overall victory includes the Toyota drivers Henk Lategan, Saaod Variava and Yazeed al Rajhi with his co-driver Timo Gottschalk from Brandenburg. Mattias Ekström, Carlos Sainz and Mitch Guthrie, together with Roma, make up the Ford works team quartet. The Austrian Mark Mustermann is also driving a Ford alongside Michael Zajc.

Guillaume de Mevius and Mathieu Baumel are competing for the X-raid Team in the Mini John Cooper Works 3.0i.

In the manufacturers’ standings, Dacia leads with 315 points, ahead of Toyota and Ford with 250 and 175 points respectively.

Zeigt im Ford Raptor mächtig Flagge: Nani Roma

Foto: Red Bull

Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel is competing for class victory against his Defender team-mate Rokas Baciuska, the current leader in the production-based vehicle category.

Austrian Matthias Walkner, winner of the Challenger class in a Can-Am buggy, will be heading to Morocco for the final round of the World Championship in Argentina. The 2018 Dakar Rally motorcycle winner will be driving a Nissan Navara at the Rallye du Maroc alongside co-driver Stephan Stensky.