Riyadh, Dec. 30 (BNA): The fourth edition of the Saudi Dakar Rally 2023 will start tomorrow and will continue until January 15, 2023, with the participation of 453 vehicles in various categories of the race, including 89 vehicles in the Dakar Classic, with a distance of more than 8,500 km starting from Yanbu. .
On this occasion, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, welcomed the elite of drivers, riders and navigators participating in the Saudi Dakar Rally competitions for this year, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). mentioned.
He said in a press statement: “We are proud to launch the fourth edition in a row in the Kingdom, which reflects the continuous interest of our wise leadership, and the support of His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, who directly contributed to the advancement of the sports sector by providing all the capabilities that It will consolidate the Kingdom’s leading position in the global sports arena, to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”
He added: The Kingdom’s hosting of this global event for the fourth time confirms its ability to organize international sporting events with high professionalism, as 455 vehicles will participate in this edition in various categories of the race, with a distance of more than 8,500 km. And with the participation of drivers from 68 different countries, they will race in new circuits that are 70% different from the previous tracks, and include many terrains and diverse natural areas.”
Prince Khaled bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Motor Sports Federation and the Saudi Motor Sports Company, said: The Saudi Dakar Rally 2023 track represents a greater challenge for the participants, and it keeps pace with the passion of the global public who follows the rally closely, as we promise them an exciting adventure in the largest race Bear in the world, I hope everyone can enjoy times full of happy memories, enjoy the beauty of the kingdom, and explore it. Unique nature.
The Saudi Dakar Rally track consists of 14 stages, in addition to an introductory stage, as this year’s edition features new tracks that take participants from Yanbu on the shores of the Red Sea, passing through the Kingdom’s desert, to Dammam on the Red Sea coast. The Arabian Gulf, where the drivers start the rally with an introductory stage to the Al-Bahr camp in Yanbu, which is located in the northwestern mountainous regions, before heading to the far southeast, passing through Al-Ula, Hail, Dawadmi, Haradh, the Empty Quarter, Shaybah, Hofuf and Dammam.
The stages of the race will be as follows:
– Preliminary stage (Saturday, December 31): Al-Bahr Camp – Al-Bahr Camp for a distance of 11 km.
The first stage (Sunday, January 1): Camp Al-Bahr – Camp Al-Bahr, a circular stage for a distance of 603 km (a special stage: 368 km).
The second stage (Monday, January 2): Al-Bahr Camp – Al-Ula, 590 km (special stage: 431 km).
The third stage (Tuesday, January 3): Al-Ula – Hail, 669 km (special stage, 447 km).
The fourth stage (Wednesday, January 4): Hail – Hail, a circular stage for a distance of 573 km (a special stage of 425 km).
The fifth stage (Thursday, January 5): Hail – Hail, a circular stage for a distance of 646 km (a special stage of 375 km).
The sixth stage (Friday, January 6): Hail – Dawadmi, 877 km (special stage: 466 km).
The seventh stage (Saturday, January 7): Dawadmi – Dawadmi, a circular stage for a distance of 641 km (special stage: 473 km).
The eighth stage (Sunday, January 8): Dawadmi – Riyadh, 722 km (the special stage is 407 km).
Rest Day (Monday, January 9): Riyadh.
The ninth stage (Tuesday, January 10): Riyadh – Haradh, 710 km (the special stage: 439 km).
Stage 10 (Wednesday, January 11): Haradh-Al-Shaybah 623km (special stage 114km).
Stage 11 (Thursday, January 12): Shaybah Marathon – Al-Aridah 426 km (special stage: 275 km).
The twelfth stage (Friday, January 13): Al-Aridah – Al-Shaybah, marathon 375 km (185 km special stage).
Stage 13 (Saturday, January 14): Shaybah – Al-Hofuf 669km (Special Stage: 154km).
The fourteenth stage (Sunday, January 15): Hofuf – Dammam, 414 km (the special stage: 136 km).
The Kingdom hosted the Saudi Dakar Rally competitions last January for the third time in a row, as it attracted a group of the most prominent international drivers, representing 63 countries from all over the world, for a period of 14 days across 12 stages and six categories. The Dakar Rally is one of the oldest races in motorsports, due to its scale and events. It is organized by the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), in cooperation with the Saudi Motorsports Company, and in coordination with the relevant local authorities.
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