The 49th edition of the Dakar Rally is set to commence in Portugal, specifically in the Algarve region, before continuing its course across the African continent. The Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) announced this exceptional shift from the usual Saudi Arabian venue due to intensified attacks by Houthi fighters from Yemen, backed by Iran, against Riyadh. While the race will return to Saudi Arabia for the 50th edition in 2028, the 2027 event will traverse Europe and Africa.
Scheduled tentatively for January 9 to 23, pending final approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the rally will run between Loulé-Faro and Marrakech. The Algarve Stadium will serve as the starting point and host technical and administrative checks from January 6 to 8. The prologue is set for January 9, followed by the first stage on January 10, after which competitors will cross the sea to Nador, Morocco.
Morocco will host the remaining 11 stages and a rest day in Agadir. The total route spans 7,824 kilometers, with 4,341 kilometers designated as timed sections. David Castera, the event director, stated that despite tight preparation time, the organization has designed a "true Dakar" experience, highlighting the support received from the Automobile Club of Portugal (ACP). The race is already counting 350 registered participants and will serve as the opening event for the FIA and FIM World Rally-Raid Championships. It will also feature the Dakar Classic and the Mission 1000 program.
This marks the first time the Dakar Rally has started on Portuguese soil since 2007. Lisbon previously hosted the starts in 2006 and 2007, with a third edition planned for 2008 that was cancelled on the eve of the start due to security threats in Mauritania. That cancellation led to the race moving to South America from 2009 to 2019, before shifting to Saudi Arabia in 2020. The upcoming Portugal and Morocco route interrupts this cycle in the Kingdom.
Sources: Pplware.