World Rally Championship - Balázsé Szalay will start the race in Morocco

According to the announcement of the Szalay Dakar Team, the race will take place on a new route compared to the previous two years, following the coastal section of the Atlantic Ocean. The field starts from Agadir and covers 2,316 kilometers to the finish, the length of the measured sections will be 1,575 kilometers. The route of the World Cup race in Morocco was planned in such a way that it could prepare the participants for what awaits them in the Dakar Rally a few months later.

"Navigation and sand will play a big role in the competition, which will take place in areas that are much wilder than before and less known to off-road racers," the statement quoted David Castera, who also designed the route of the competition and the Dakar.
Balázs Szalay - who took part in nine African Dakars between 1996 and 2007 - drew attention to the fact that this part of Morocco has always been a huge task for the competitors.

"It's okay that the conditions will be difficult, since we definitely wanted to test the new car in a tough race, which was shortened a bit, got a completely new frame and body elements, improved the view and modified the chassis. Before the race, two longer we also had a test, we finished the first one with a half-shaft break, but the second one was handled perfectly even with 100% stress," said the pilot, who said that due to the crowded field, they shouldn't have too high expectations, it would be a good result if they would finish in the top twenty.

Bunkoczi emphasized that after the long break, it will be a challenge to see how they will be able to pick up the rhythm of racing again. He believed that they should not get too excited, but rather try to experience the World Cup race as a good experience.
"Getting to the finish line will be a big challenge here, so I'm not really interested in the ranking. These courses will be unfamiliar to most of the field, so we will also be unfamiliar, made worse by the fact that I've never competed with digital navigation before, which I hope I'll have the opportunity to try. on the test," added the navigator.

According to the announcement, based on the preliminary entries, 140 motorcycle, 100 car pairs and 9 truck units will start at the World Championship, before which the participants will have the opportunity to do a test.

In the race for the first off-road world championship, nine-time world rally champion Sébastien Loeb and three-time Dakar winner Nasser al-Attijah are going head-to-head. Loeb's advantage is only one point in the overall. For the first time since January, the factory Audi team is fielding its stars at the same time: Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Mattias Ekström are participating in the race with the Q e-tron Evo2 car.

(Source: autokalauz.co.hu; MTI | Image: pixabay.com)