The rally-raid format race involves teams using nothing more than a roadbook containing a map to traverse vast swathes of difficult terrain, sometimes driving for up to twelve hours straight, with special stages along the route.
The entire course is timed. Special stages such as the 48-hour race and the marathon stage are subject to separate timing rules – this is where Tudor comes into play.
Indeed, the house will be Official Timekeeper of the event and will ensure that every second is taken into account at each stage. During such a demanding rally, timing is more than essential; it’s not just a question of speed but of endurance.
This year, the Dakar will bring together 778 participants for 354 vehicles expected to start in AlUla. In addition to the prologue, there will be 12 stages spread over 14 days. This rally has five categories of vehicles: motorcycles, quads, cars, light vehicles and trucks.
Known as “the Dakar,” the competition originated when French motorcycle racer Thierry Sabine lost his way during the 1977 Abidjan-Nice Rally and found himself stranded in the Sahara Desert.
Although he was eventually rescued, he was nevertheless able to see how difficult and unforgiving the desert was; This is how he came up with the idea of making it the central theme of what will become one of the toughest races in the world. On December 26, 1978, the first edition of the Paris-Dakar was launched.
From then on, the race was renamed the Dakar Rally. For several years, this extreme rally has been widely criticized for its environmental impact and must undergo a significant transformation if it wants to remain attractive, particularly among younger people. As such, the race hopes to achieve carbon neutrality in 2026… To be continued.
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