The 27th edition of the Rallye du Maroc gets underway Monday, September 28, with competitors beginning a six-day journey from Agadir to Zagora across some of Morocco’s most demanding desert terrain.
The rally brings together two main competition categories. The first, governed by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), covers motorcycles and quads, while the second, overseen by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), includes the car categories. The event also features Open and Historic vehicle classes.
A total of 272 vehicles are taking part, including 133 bikes and quads, 112 FIA entries, three Open vehicles and 24 historic cars.
Monday’s opening program is different for the two main categories. The FIM competitors will begin with an 18-kilometre timed prologue, a short competitive section that will establish the classification and determine the starting positions for the first stage. The FIA competitors, meanwhile, will complete a shakedown, a final run that will allow the car crews to prepare before the competitive stages begin.
The main rally starts Tuesday, September 29, with the longest stage of the event, taking competitors from Agadir to Zagora over 636 kilometers, including 268 kilometers against the clock.
Five stages leading to Zagora
Once the rally reaches Zagora, the competitors will remain around the same large bivouac for the next four stages, which will start and finish in the area.
Wednesday’s second stage covers 423 kilometers, including 300 kilometers of timed competition. Thursday’s third stage is longer at 592 kilometers, with 364 kilometers against the clock.
Friday brings the longest timed test of the rally. FIA competitors will cover 516 kilometers, including 384 kilometers of special stage, while the FIM route covers 453 kilometers, including 321 kilometers timed.
The final stage on Saturday, October 3, will cover 357 kilometers, with 259 kilometers against the clock, before the rally concludes in Zagora.
Across the event, FIA competitors will cover 2,524 kilometers, including 1,575 kilometers of timed sections. The FIM route covers 2,637 kilometers, including 1,530 kilometers against the clock.
New challenges in the 2026 edition
This year’s rally introduces several changes to the route and competition format. Rally director Marc Coma, a three-time winner of the Rallye du Maroc on motorcycles, has described the second stage as “the toughest” of the event. It will include a new section through the Atlas Mountains before moving across rocky terrain and into the sand.
The motorcycle and car routes will also be systematically separated in the dunes. Sand will account for more than 40% of the timed sections, with dunes making up 10% and sandy tracks another 31%.
Another new feature is the Malle Moto classification, which is designed for riders competing without outside assistance at the bivouac. The rally will also host its first Rally du Maroc Classic, with 24 historic vehicles taking part.
Coma, who has been Rallye du Maroc director since 2025 after winning the event three times as a rider, said the growing field reflects the confidence competitors have placed in the event.
“The Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc continues to attract an ever-increasing number of entrants. For this first 100 per cent Pro Dunes edition, these figures are a testament to the confidence the competitors have placed in us,” Coma said.
He also highlighted the mix of competitors and categories that will share the bivouac this year.
“The five FIA categories, the FIM bikes and quads, the Open class, plus the historic vehicles will all be together at the bivouac. This exceptional gathering of all the rally-raid communities will make this edition very special,” he added.
A strong field across two and four wheels
The motorcycle field includes defending Rallye du Maroc winner Tosha Schareina and reigning world champion Daniel Sanders, while the car category features major rally-raid names including Nasser Al Attiyah, Sébastien Loeb, Lucas Moraes and Carlos Sainz.
The rally will finish in Zagora on Saturday, October 3, with the post-race press conference scheduled for 6 p.m. followed by the prize-giving ceremony at 7:30 p.m.
