The Dakar 2023 with a very tough course in Saudi Arabia

Remember, the Dakar Rally 2022 began with a series of particularly eventful stages before experiencing a second week that was very calm, even too simple. The competitors informed Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the organizer of the rally-quarantine raid, who prepared the 2023 edition based on participants' comments.

In 2022, 12 stages had been mapped out by David Castera and his teams. In 2023, Saudi Arabia remains the only country crossed, but the number of special stages has been increased to 14, with the added bonus of the presence of the traditional Prologue as the opening of hostilities.

The Dakar 2023 will go from east to west with a start on the banks of the Red Sea on December 31, 2022, not in Jeddah as has been the case since the Middle Eastern kingdom hosted the competition in 2020, but in the desert . A change of location certainly decided following the explosion having seriously injured the pilot Philippe Boutron in Jeddah, a few days before the start of the Dakar 2022.

Compared to the previous edition, the route will be renewed up to 70%. The desert expanse of the Empty Quarter appears on the map, but last year, the Director of the event had already announced this piece of bravery before going back on his words shortly before kick-off.

“This famous Empty Quarter, which we talk about so much, we will finally go and discover it, with three stages of immense dunes as well as a marathon stage, where outside assistance will be prohibited in the evening”, promises the former biker and co-pilot. Immersion is now made possible thanks to the road which provides communications with the neighboring state of Oman, also making it possible to set up a bivouac in the far east of Saudi Arabia.

📅 31.12.22/15.01.23/XNUMX – XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX
🚩 Sea Camp
🌊 From coast to coast 🌊
🆕 70% new tracks
🏜 Exploring the Empty Quarter
🏁 Dammam# Dakar2023 pic.twitter.com/s9mpTqnTLs

- DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) June 5, 2022

The 2023 Dakar will be tough, very tough. With nearly 5 kilometers of selective sections, it will be the longest distance to cover in a special since the 000 edition then contested in South America. Every day, athletes will have to face between 2014 and 350 special stages. The connecting portions, tedious in 500, will be reduced.

Registration will open on the morning of June 6 and will close on October 31. The technical and administrative checks will take place from November 28 to 30, and no longer a few days before the big departure as was the case previously. “We want to minimize the work on site before the prologue and try to send the vehicles already checked to Saudi Arabia”, continues David Castera.

Sports news
The digital roadbook, introduced for cars and trucks, will be generalized to all categories (motorcycles, SSV, T3). Historically perceived as a serious disadvantage, the bikers responsible for opening the track each morning will benefit from a time bonus in order to balance the chances between the competitors.

The crews in the Car category will no longer be able to rest during the mid-special neutralization. Bearer of criticism last winter, the starting order of the specials will henceforth be determined based on the general classification of the day before, for cars and trucks. The first truck will start from 41st place. Reclassification may be requested from priority cars (factories or registered in the W2RC, the World Rally Raid Championship). The detailed route will be presented during the month of November.

READ ALSO > Julien Ingrassia at the start of the 2023 Dakar