The race, which will take place from October 10 to 17, is once again the final round of the FIA-FIM World Championships. It is also a natural springboard for Moroccan athletes into rally-raids.
The 236 vehicles entered in the race have been setting up since this afternoon at the Grand Stade de Fès service park to prepare the crossing of the three provinces of Fès-Meknès, Oriental, and Drâa Tafilalet.
2,299 kilometers, including 1,478 of special stage, will be covered between Fès and Erfoud. The prologue on October 12 will be followed by five stages. The first will be an itinerant stage to Erfoud, and the next four will be loops.
From national to international coverage thanks to social media, radio, TV, and the Race Center, it has never been easier to stay connected to the Rallye du Maroc. Hit Radio is the race’s new media partner.
ON TRACK
The Grand Stadium in Fez is buzzing with excitement, with the first teams beginning to set up since 2 p.m. today.
Starting tomorrow, the Marriott Hotel will be the rally headquarters, with administrative and technical checks taking place on October 10 and 11.
The prologue on October 12 will confirm the Kingdom’s spiritual capital as the capital of motorsports for the coming week.
International rally-raid stars from 45 countries are currently converging on Fez. Nasser Al Attiyah (Dacia) is the most eagerly awaited. The three-time world champion is in contention for a fourth title in the coming days of the W2RC final. The Qatari is also the record holder for victories in the Rallye du Maroc with seven wins to his name, the most recent of which came in October 2024. Next is Yazeed Al Rajhi (Toyota). Winner of the 2025 Dakar Rally on home soil, the Saudi Arabian has already enjoyed success in Morocco, back in 2023. Four-time Dakar winner Carlos Sainz (Ford) is also getting ready, as is another rally legend, Sébastien Loeb (Dacia).
The inhabitants of Fez may have the opportunity to meet these stars, as well as privateers, some of whom will venture into the largest medina in the world. It will be a real navigation warm-up with its 3,000 km of narrow streets!
The competitors will set off at dawn on October 13 from the capital of the Fez-Meknes province to reach the Oriental province, the scene of the first stage of the race across the Rekkam plateau to the Drâa-Tafilalet province and the gates of Erfoud. Just north of the oasis city, in the middle of the date harvest season, the race caravan will set up camp. Thanks to the nomadic expertise of the local teams, who will bring the temporary site to life for five days and nights, Erfoud will see its population jump by 10%!
Once again, 80% of the Rallye du Maroc’s budget will go to national companies (30 in 2024) that work hand in hand (700 Moroccan employees) with the organization on each edition of the race. All waste water and refuge from the bivouacs will be recycled, including the racing tires, which will be collected, cut into strips, and sent to a recycling center.
RADIO BIVOUAC
Hit Radio, the Kingdom’s leading private radio station for the 15-34 age group, is the media partner for the 26th edition. The new generation will be more connected than ever to the Rallye du Maroc thanks to daily, comprehensive coverage of the race with dedicated programs and the presence of special correspondents on site.
On the airwaves and online, follow the race of the stars as well as national drivers and navigators from October 10 to 17 (see Figure of the Day).
On TV in Morocco, watch the Rallye du Maroc every day on national television. With 2M and its sports news at 12:45 p.m. in Arabic and 8:45 p.m. in French. With Araddia TV at 10:00 p.m. (rebroadcast at midnight and the next morning). With Aloula TV at 8:30 p.m. With Med1 TV through regular news bulletins. Or thanks to La Map, the national press agency that will relay images of the rally.
Finally, Radio Mars, the leading sports radio station, will also be on site to ensure that nothing is missed during the event.
Internationally, the Rallye du Maroc is relayed by 120 official TV broadcasters in 190 countries, reaching more than 13 million unique viewers on six continents.
With almost 4 million contacts via social media, the rally can also be followed on various official platforms. Every day, you can find the best images and summaries, or experience the race first-hand.
For sports fans, log on to the Race Center every day 30 minutes before the first bike takes to the track to follow the race live on the official Rallye du Maroc page.
NUMBER OF THE DAY: 6
Six Moroccans are taking part. Achraf Zoulati (#187) is the FIM motorcyclist to watch, a Junior supported by the Royal Moroccan Motorcycling Federation.
In the FIA SSV category, Firdaouss Al Fannane (#435) will be the navigator for Benoit Delmas.
It is in the Open category that Morocco has the best chance of performing. Three out of seven vehicles will be driven by Moroccans. Omar Bouyzol (#723) is in charge of navigation for Enrique Martinez, while Omar Benhayoun is the driver of Can-Am 724. In another Can-Am, the duo of Ali Oubassidi and Hanane Amraoui (#722), defending champions in SSV Open, will be the only 100% Moroccan crew.
SEEDS OF THE RALLY
The Rallye du Maroc is created throughout the year. From the reconnaissance period, when the teams on the ground map out the future route, to the race itself, the encounters always expand the Rallye du Maroc family a little more. As tradition dictates, when you return to see your loved ones back home, you never come empty-handed! And this year, on October 15 at 7:30 p.m. during the daily briefing, Erfoud will receive two gestures of friendship from the Rallye du Maroc.
For the new generation, computers will be given to colleges in the city to enable the opening of a computer room for the creation of dedicated courses. And since visits to the Erfoud hospital for initial medical check-ups are part of the race, the pharmacy’s cupboards will be stocked up so that as many people as possible can benefit from medicine for the rest of the year.
These small seeds will grow throughout the year, until the next visit from September 28 to October 3, 2026.
QUOTE
Marc Coma, director of the Rallye du Maroc. – Three-time winner of the motorcycle category (2006-09-14)
“Morocco is a meeting place for all rally-raid enthusiasts. It is close to Europe, and almost all competitors from this continent have discovered its unique characteristics here. Personally, Morocco was the starting point of my story with the Dakar. In rally raids, you have to go as fast as possible, but other factors come into play. Navigation is the first specific point, the second is the desert, and the dunes are what make it unique. When you find yourself in the midst of these elements, the spirit of mutual aid and teamwork plays a fundamental role. That’s the spirit of rally raids. Morocco is a country of solidarity that has the DNA of our sport in its veins. That’s why the chemistry between the Kingdom and the Rallye du Maroc is so strong. It’s this connection that makes this race so special. And it’s this bond that we will continue to forge together, Pro Dunes with the Moroccans.”
The program :
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7:30 p.m.: official presentation of competitors and co-drivers, followed by a general briefing (Place Bab Makina)
Source: W2RC / Rallye du Maroc / ASO
Photo: @ Rallye du Maroc – Sam Decout
