Dakar, 2021 edition still in Arabia but all new

The 43rd edition of the Dakar will start on January 3, 2021, from Jeddah, which will take place again, and only, in the territory of Saudi Arabia. The route, divided into eleven stages which will be unveiled in the autumn, will be completely new compared to the last edition. The race, which will also end on January 15 in Jeddah, also includes a new category, the Classic, reserved for cars and trucks from the 80s and 90s.

The 2021 edition, which will take place in "unexplored" territories, the organizers announce, will focus on navigation skills and safety. The roadbooks will now be delivered the morning immediately before the start of each special and some categories will have them digital. The race rules have been modified to slow down the vehicles and, in general, to make each race safer. There will be acoustic warnings to signal the approach to particular difficulties, the creation of "slow zones", the reduction of the number of tires available for motorcyclists and the mandatory use of airbag vests.