The 2021 Dakar

The 2021 Dakar Rally is a rally raid event held in Saudi Arabia and the 43rd edition of the Dakar Rally.^[1][2] The event will be held for 14 days, starting from 3 January and ending 15 January 2021. It is the second time Saudi Arabia has hosted the event, with support from the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation.^[3] The race will start and end in Jeddah, allowing the competitors to venture through the desert and alongside the Red Sea. The route consists of one prologue stage and 12 normal stages, with one rest day in Ha’il on 9 January.^[4][5] The rally was orginally intended to run through 2–3 additional countries, with Egypt and Jordan being rumoured likely candidates. However, due to travel and border restrictions implimented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the route stayed entirely within Saudi Arabian territory.^[6][7]

The route[edit]

A completely new route has been put together, described as a lot slower, more varied, and more technical. The route includes 1 Prologue stage, 12 stages including 2 loop stages, 1 marathon stage. The exact route will be revealed in November 2020.

Changes[edit]

There will be a Prologue stage that will determine the starting positions for Stage 1. The Road Books will only be distributed 10 min. prior to the start of the stage. There will be an option of a digital roadbook. New classifications will be introduced for T3: Light Proto, T4: SSV, T5: Truck. The Elite / Priority Driver list will be extended from bike only to all categories. Original by MOTUL category will continue, which limits and controls on the use of external assistance. Improvements in safety include a speed limit of 90 km/h in hazardous sectors, mandatory first aid training certificate for all competitors, automatic Sentinel sound warning system for dangers classed level 2 and 3, and mandatory airbag vests for all bike and quad drivers. New regulations for Elite bikers will see a limit of 1 piston change and 6 rear tires for the whole rally; all tires will need to be the same brand and model. Bikers will not be allowed assistance during the refueling. The organizers are promoting vehicles using alternative energy sources by introducing a 50% registration fee discount in all categories, introducing a prize in the Alternative Energy Challenge, and introducing new regulations for these vehicles. Dakar Experience ranking and regulations have been revamped, it will only be available for amateur, non-Elite/Priority drivers. A new Dakar Classic class will be introduced for cars and trucks manufactured before 2000, or new cars built to original pre-2000 specification. These vehicles will share the same bivouac and the organization but will run in a parallel, yet different route, suitable for historic vehicles. The class will feature a reduced entry fee, yet the same rules and fees will apply for the assistance.^[8]

Further changes came just before the event, when revamped FIA regulations for Cross-Country rally stipulated speed limits across all categories. Vehicles in the T1 and T2 (Cars) categories were now restricted to 180 kilometres per hour (110 mph) while vehicles in the T3, T4, and T5 categories (Light Prototypes, UTVs, and Trucks) were limited to 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph).^[9] Motorcycles and Quads had already been subjected to speed limits for several years.

Entry list[edit]

Number of entries[edit]

A number of participants were affected by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Before participants travelled to Saudi Arabia on 26-27 of December, Nani Roma co-driver Daniel Oliveras Carreras had to be replaced with Alexandre Winocq, Gintas Petrus co-driver Povilas Valaitis replaced with José Marques, Denis Krotov co-driver Konstantin Zhiltsov replaced with Oleg Uparenko, Ricardo Porem co-driver Manuel Porem replaced with Jorge Monteiro. Vaidotas Žala two main technicians contracted the coronavirus, numerous other teams were forced to make last-minute changes to replace team members that were tested positive for coronavirus. Trucks #523 and #526 withdrew after Francesc Ester and Jorge Ballbe contracted coronavirus. After arrival to Jeddah, all participants had to take two coronavirus tests two days apart. #56 Giordano Pacheco and #357 Alexey Titov tests came positive, repeat tests were also positive, and they were forced to withdraw from the race. #23 Ivan Jakeš second test came positive. They all had to self-isolate for 7 days before allowed to travel home.^[10][11]

Stages[edit]