AGADIR, ENERGY HUB
Key points:
- Marc Coma revealed today in Agadir the details of the 27th edition of the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc, which will take place from September 26 to October 3, 2026, once again under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
- At the press conference held at the Sofitel Royal Bay Resort, OLA Energy Maroc was announced as the event’s new title sponsor. The race’s Official Energy Supplier will now lend its name to the event, which becomes the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc.
- For the third time in five years, Agadir will be the start city. A bivouac in Zagora will host the finish of all five stages. Following the FIM prologue and the FIA Shakedown on the coast, the route will consist of an itinerant stage followed by a four loop stages.
- The director of the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc has released the initial figures for the 4th round of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship: 2,838 km, including 1,656 km of special stage for cars, and 2,773 km, including 1,591 km of special stage for motorcycles. The details for the OLA Energy Rallye du Maroc Classic will be announced shortly following the final reconnaissance.
Building on the values of professionalism and camaraderie with Morocco established by ODC Events to take the event to a new level—that was Pro Dunes’ mantra in 2025, when the new team took the reins of the race. One year later, in Agadir, a city symbolic for the race, the new organization is putting its words into action.
In the company of Ramzi Selem, Managing Director of OLA Energy Morocco, Alexis Rioland, General Coordinator of the W2RC, as well as Moroccan competitors, the director of the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc introduced the race’s new partners before outlining the broad strokes of what must now be referred to in the plural: the 2026 routes. The 27th edition of the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc will also be the debut of the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc Classic, which is now part of the event and adds a historical dimension to it, following in the footsteps of the Dakar Classic with which it forms a series.
OLA ENERGY JOINS THE RALLYE DU MAROC
Without further delay, select partners, eager to share the established values and stated ambitions, are supporting the event (see the Statement by Marc Coma).
HIMOINSA has thus recently joined BF Goodrich as an official partner, becoming Official Power Supplier (supplier of electricity), having previously served in this role for the Dakar Rally. This experience and expertise are well-suited to meeting the needs of both the organizing teams and the competitors at the bivouac, providing solutions that are increasingly respectful of the Kingdom.
This initial partnership is now followed by one with title sponsor OLA Energy Maroc, which becomes the Official Energy Supplier.
As a continental multinational, OLA Energy is already established in seventeen African countries (1,350 service stations and over 700,000 daily customers), including Morocco (218 stations already in operation). With a core vision for its energy business to support mobility and industries across growth markets while remaining close to communities, OLA Energy Morocco will supply fuel to the world’s top rally-raid teams seeking optimal performance across all terrains in the Kingdom, all with the utmost respect for the environment (see the Statement by Ramzi Salem).
And that’s not all, as the Société Marocaine de Récupération et de Recyclage (SMRR), the national leader, is committing this year to support the event as a partner responsible for collecting and recycling plastic bottles used throughout the competition. This collaboration is part of an effort to reduce the event’s environmental footprint and promote the circular economy. Bottles collected at the various rally sites will be sent to the appropriate recycling sites to be processed and reintroduced into the production cycle.
Partnerships capable of raising environmental standards to the highest level, just like the sport itself, which, once again, will serve as a springboard to the pinnacle of the discipline: the Dakar.
THE DAKAR IN REARVIEW MIRROR, NEW HORIZONS AHEAD
A dress rehearsal for the Dakar for both professional teams and experienced privateers, and a first taste of the desert for amateurs (see David Castera’s statement), Marc Coma understands the delicate balance required by the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc: “I’m very pleased with the preparation work our teams have done on the ground. We’ve reintroduced elements that had faded somewhat, and we’ve also managed to find new sections, which isn’t easy in Morocco.”
As he had already announced, in response to requests from the bivouac, the mileage of the FIA route has been increased. Now, the stats are in: 1,591 km of special stage for the motorcycles, 1,656 km (+4%) for the cars and trucks. Compared to the previous edition, this represents a 13% increase in FIA special stage length. And to further help preparation, an FIA ‘pit stop’ is planned to allow teams to practice the tire strategies introduced on the 2026 Dakar and set to return next January.
Agadir and its surrounding region will be the setting for the first three days, featuring scrutineering, private tests, the traditional meeting between schoolchildren and the “bivouac,” prior to the FIM prologue. A 25-km route along the Atlantic Ocean that will serve as a “comprehensive test on sand tracks,” warns the race architect. The FIA Shakedown will take place there immediately afterward, serving as the final test for cars and trucks. It will also mark the first appearance of the classic cars entered for the 1st edition of the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc Classic.
Stage 1 will follow “the format of a Dakar stage,” with a long transfer to the Tata region, where the first special stage will start, including a first encounter with the dunes.
Right after that, Stage 2 will be “the toughest.” First, because it features a completely new route through the mountains, followed by a rocky section, before hitting the sand. It will be a full and intense day with this inaugural foray into the Atlas Mountains, a route the race hasn’t tackled in several years.
Stage 3 will offer a breather, designed especially for amateur riders. Average speeds there will be the highest of the week as the route heads toward Merzouga, where it will once again be a matter of dunes, but also of navigation.
Stage 4 will be “the most beautiful,” featuring canyons, navigation, and yet more uncharted sections. It will also mark the split between the FIA and FIM routes, with cars covering more kilometers.
The final stage will be more traditional, shorter but still featuring dunes, plus a small surprise confirmed for the end… but still not revealed!
QUOTES
Marc Coma, Director of the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc: “The entire Pro Dunes team is delighted to welcome OLA Energy Morocco, especially to Agadir, where the story of rally-raid and Morocco began. They are not only a prestigious technical partner, but also an experienced company ready to take on the challenges of top-level racing alongside us. Their technologies and expertise will allow everyone—us as organizers, as well as the competitors and their teams—to benefit from an even more professional environment to push our limits. But what makes us most proud is that their return is above all driven by the shared values of collaboration and respect that we have with Morocco and all Moroccans. The inclusion of OLA Energy in the Kingdom’s landscape strengthens our ties and our national presence within our organization. For Morocco has always been and will remain the driving force behind the event. ”
Ramzi Salem, Managing Director of OLA Energy Morocco: “It is a pleasure for OLA Energy Morocco to officially announce our return to the Rallye du Maroc as title sponsor for the next three years. This return holds special significance. Before becoming OLA Energy, our brand was already associated with this great adventure under the name OiLibya. This partnership is a natural fit. Rally-raid is about performance, endurance, reliability, mastery, and team spirit. These are also the values that guide our daily activities, in our stations, our products, our services, and our commitment to mobility in Morocco. Via the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc, we reaffirm our commitment to motorsports, our roots in the Kingdom, and our desire to support an event that showcases Morocco’s regions, talent, and image on the international stage.”
David Castera, Director of Motorsports at Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O., promoter of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship): “The Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc has been a pillar of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship since its inception in 2022. Morocco is the quintessential land of rally-raid, offering an exceptional setting thanks to the richness and diversity of its terrain. This round is a must-attend event for competitors, particularly due to the quality of its organization and the sporting challenge it presents. The Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc plays a major role in the championship’s momentum and contributes to its international reach. We are proud to count Morocco among the most iconic events of the W2RC.”
UPCOMING DATES
- Wednesday, July 15: End of the preferential registration rate for competitors
- Friday, September 11: Closing of competitor registrations
- Thursday, September 24 starting at noon:
– Opening of the service park in Agadir
- Friday, September 25:
– Private tests
- Saturday, September 26:
– Administrative and technical scrutineering
– Private tests (mornings only)
– General briefing for the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc
- Sunday, September 27:
– Administrative and technical scrutineering
– General briefing for the Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc Classic
– Press conference
- Monday, September 28:
– FIM and Classic Prologue (Agadir)
– FIA and Open Shakedown (Agadir)
- Tuesday, September 29: Stage 1 (Agadir – Zagora)
- Wednesday, September 30: Stage 2 (Zagora – Zagora)
- Thursday, October 1: Stage 3 (Zagora – Zagora)
- Friday, October 2: Stage 4 (Zagora – Zagora)
- Saturday, October 3: Stage 5 (Zagora – Zagora)
– Press conference
– Awards ceremony at the bivouac
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Media contact: Matthieu Perez – media@rallyedumaroc.com