The Dakar Rally is expected to return to Morocco in January 2027, ending seven years in Saudi Arabia as escalating hostilities in the Middle East force organizers to reconsider the race’s location.
Three sources involved in the World Rally-Raid Championship told Reuters that the event would begin in Europe, with a prologue in Spain or Portugal, before moving to Morocco for approximately 12 stages.
The revised schedule would run from January 9 to 22, replacing the original January 1–15 dates in Saudi Arabia.
The move would bring the Dakar back to Africa for the first time since 2007. The rally relocated to South America in 2009 following security concerns and moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020.
The reported change follows escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure linked to the conflict involving Yemen’s Houthi movement. Regional instability has already disrupted other motorsport competitions.
Spanish media reported that organizers had informed participating teams of plans to relocate the race.
The post Dakar Rally could return to Morocco for first time since 2007 amid Saudi security concerns appeared first on HESPRESS English - Morocco News.