The route of the Rallye du Maroc is coming together fast! David Castera reveals the main sporting aspects of the next edition and the philosophy behind it.
“The start and finish of the event will be held in the same town A (the name of which will be announced later). This town has an international airport with flights to numerous European cities.
Then on the morning of stage 1 participants will head for town B where the rally will be based for 4 nights and where they will compete over 3 loops. Three days without liaison for all those entered.
On the morning of the 5th stage, the rally caravan will return to town A where the race will finish and the prizing giving ceremony of this 2018 edition will be held.
SCRUNTINEERING
Scrutineering will be held all day on 3 October and the morning of 4 October. Administrative checks will be done in a hotel, with technical checks taking place outside in the hotel car park. This hotel will be the administrative centre for the rally (staff, administration, media centre, TV, medical, briefing…)
Technical scrutineering will take place at the assistance parc.
On the evening of 3 October the main briefing will give participants the overview of the rally and details of the prologue and the 1st stage.
The prologue of approximately 7 kms will be held on the afternoon of 4 October and will be used to decide the starting order for the 1st stage. Run over enjoyable rolling tracks, occasionally twisty, it will be a good test of driving / riding skill. Reconnaissance on foot or on bicycle will be allowed.
STAGE 1
Town A – Town B: Cars / Trucks: 270 Kms – Bikes / Quads / SSVs: 255 Kms (approximate distances)
This first stage will be composed of two specials separated by a liaison. The first special will be run over nice, technical tracks at over 2000 metres altitude and will contrast with the second, made up of numerous off-piste sections and the first dunes of the rally.
The second special, although over similar types of terrain, will be different for the cars / trucks and the bikes / quads / SSVs.
STAGE 2
Town B – Town B: Cars / Trucks: 325 Kms – Bikes / Quads / SSVs: 290 Kms (approximate distances)
The first half of the stage will be made up of numerous off-piste sections and dunes. The second part will be more rolling on tracks and will be different depending on the categories. Care should be taken with navigation throughout the special!
STAGES 3 and 4
Town B – Town B: for Cars / Trucks: 340 Kms and 335 Kms
Town B – Marathon Bivouac – Town B for Bikes / Quads: 290 Kms and 325 Kms – SSVs: 240 Kms and 325 Kms (approximate distances)
These stages will be run be run alternately. One stage will be raced by one category then the next day by the other. However the stages won’t be exactly the same.
These two specials will offer a large variety of terrain. Off-piste, dunes, tracks, navigation will alternate from the first to the last kilometre. There will be no question of grouping the dunes into 10 kilometres, instead they will be encountered throughout the two specials.
The stage leading to the marathon bivouac will be shorter for the SSVs so as to preserve them.
The start of stage 4 for the bikes will be in waves opposite the dunes.
STAGE 5
Town B – Town A: Cars / Trucks: 230 Kms – Bikes / Quads / SSVs: 210 Kms (approximate distances)
As for stage 1, there will be two specials on the day’s menu. The first will be a farewell to the desert and the dunes, while the second, run uniquely over tracks at altitude, will be more technical and twisty.
The stage will end close to Town A, where the finish of the rally will be given.
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