Need we say more? The rally's fifth edition in Saudi Arabia will start in the city of AlUla, crossing the country in the direction of the Empty Quarter and finishing in Yanbu on the shores of the Red Sea.
Following a demanding edition that revealed the competitors' capacity for resistance, the tone of the Dakar 2024 will be just as respectful of their expectations in terms of a challenge. The route, which will cover an equivalent distance of 5, 000 kilometers, of special stages continues the exploration of Saudi territory, with 60% of all-new sections. A total of nine bivouacs will be set up on a large swathe running west-east, crisscrossing the route in both directions to a final finish in Yanbu, on the shores of the Red Sea.

48H CHRONO STAGE
This is a new stage format, contested over two days with the constraints of a marathon stage, although competitors are permitted to help each other during the evening. But this time, there will be no choice of canteen or repair companions, as the drivers and crews will be spread out over eight different bivouacs. When the clocks strike 4 pm, all vehicles will be required to stop at the next bivouac they come across. With no connection and therefore no visibility of their rivals' performances, the competitors will camp and set off again at 7 am the following day to complete the remaining section of the route. The tally will be counted after around 600 kilometres of special stage.

EMPTY QUARTER: TWO SPECIAL DAYS
The immense desert of the Empty Quarter will be the venue for the all-new “48H CHRONO STAGE”, with a special format that surpasses the time limit imposed on the first sequence. The terrain lends itself particularly well to two separate courses, one for motorbikes and quads and the other for cars and trucks. Therefore, the top FIA teams will not benefit from the tracks left by the two-wheelers and will have to navigate based on their talent. The system of 'bonuses' awarded to motorbike stage openers introduced in the previous edition will be, exceptionally, employed.

The penultimate round of the FIM Bajas World Cup, attracting competitors from around the world, including professional and amateur riders, who will be able to test their limits prior to the Dakar. Even though it’s a three day race, the weather conditions and the tough desert will prove to be a challenge to all competitors in the race.

The ultimate round of the 2R World Rally Raid Championship: The infamous Rallye du Maroc. Well known for its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions, and covers over 2500 km in five stages across Morocco. The event is also an important test race for the Dakar Rally, providing competitors with valuable experience on the demanding sand dunes and rocky landscapes of Africa.

Desafío Ruta 40, one of the most important cross-country rally races, returns to the FIA & FIM World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC). This 11th edition of the DR40 will travel emblematic terrains of three provinces that breathe rally. The competition will cover terrain in La Rioja, Catamarca and Salta, which have already been engraved into the memory of the drivers and spectators, thanks to the rich history of this discipline at the time of the Dakar Rally in South America.