On Sunday 14 January 2024, as has been the tradition since the creation of the AFRICA ECO RACE, the 15th edition came to a close at Lac Rose in Dakar. The parade of winners and finishers on the podium, organised by the Fédération Sénégalaise Auto Moto, the event's host organisation, was a real celebration. The ceremony was preceded by the traditional 22km Lac Rose special stage, from Niokob beach to the mythical lake, which the motorbikes, cars and trucks still in the running completed. It was a last hurrah of honour, but there are surprises in store every year.
Up until now, the AFRICA ECO RACE has been spared from weather problems. Unfortunately, on Friday morning, for the 10th stage, a violent wind swept across the Amodjar plateau causing a sandstorm that prevented the organisation's helicopters from taking off. Without a helicopter, it was impossible to ensure optimum safety and to monitor the race, so the decision was taken to send the bikes, cars and trucks in convoy to the petrol station from where the start was given. As a result, the 387km special stage was shortened by 190km, cutting out the section of dunes planned for the start of the stage.
The growing interest in our event, day after day, has prompted us to launch an innovation. The next edition, in 2025, will be limited in terms of the number of participants in the race. Over the past few days, many people have contacted us or registered directly on our website to take part in the next edition.
All the competitors were unanimous upon arriving at the finish line located on the runway of the Chinguetti airfield in saying that this 9th stage in the form of a loop around Amodjar was the most beautiful so far in this 15th edition of the AFRICA ECO RACE. But it was also the most difficult, with a copious 90km stretch of dunes and, once again, varied terrain that was hard on both machines and men. All this over 363 kilometers in blazing sunshine. As a result, the gaps at the finish were quite large, and the rankings were shaken up several times, except at the top of the table.
By the end of the 390km special stage between Chami and Amodjar, there was no doubt that all the terrain and difficulties that can be found in Africa were on display, in the heart of the splendid Mauritanian desert landscape and in unseasonably high temperatures. Despite all this, the leaders held up well in both the car and motorbike categories, so there were few changes.
Everything possible is being done on the AFRICA ECO RACE to minimise the impact of the event on the environment of the countries it crosses. To achieve this, setting up loops around a bivouac is an ideal strategy, as the rally caravan doesn't have to move around. This was the case today, with the start 20km from the bivouac of Chami and the finish 500 meters away after a 453km special stage. This first loop should do some damage to the standings, both on the bikes, where many riders are missing waypoints, and on the four-wheelers, where the gaps at the finish are quite substantial.
La caravane de l’AFRICA ECO RACE s’est levée aux aurores ce lundi 8 janvier pour effectuer la liaison de 370 km vers la frontière Marocaine. Un magnifique buffet typique marocain attendait les participants avant de sortir du pays et d’emprunter le No Man’s Land vers la Mauritanie. Après avoir passé la douane et effectué une liaison de 30 km, les concurrents de cette 15ème édition ont pris le départ depuis Boulanouar pour la spéciale de 205 km vers le bivouac de Chami. Une entrée en matière idéale pour découvrir les pistes sablonneuses empruntées tout au long de cette deuxième semaine.
This final stage of the AFRICA ECO RACE on Moroccan soil was completed at lightning speed, with the 404km selective sector completed in 03:31:53 for the bike and 03:31:53 for the car. An identical time to the nearest second! Something rarely seen in the history of Cross-Country Rallies. This is certainly due to the fact that since this year, the cars, SSVs and trucks have all been neutralised for 20 minutes, just like the bikes. It's quite a coincidence, but one that deserves to be highlighted.
For some competitors in the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024, Stage 3 may have left its mark, but for others, the motivation was very much in evidence this morning at the start of the bivouac at Oued Draa, not far from Tagounite. It has to be said that this 467km special was particularly long, over varied terrain with some rather demanding navigation at the end of the route.
With 8 degrees on the thermometer, the temperature was already much milder on the morning of Thursday January 4 at the start of the Oued Draa bivouac, not far from Mahmid, the Mecca of Rally Raids in Morocco. All the conditions were in place for a great day's racing.
From sunrise, with sub-zero temperatures at the Boudnib bivouac, the day got off to a difficult start for the participants in the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024. The 383km special stage between Boudnib and Mhamid was not going to make it any easier.
Competition and sharing define the spirit of the Africa Eco Race
Xavier Flick - Winner Motul Extreme Rider 2022
We congratulate AFRICA ECO RACE for their support AMADE and enabling Mauritanian and Senegalese students to have access to solar lamps. A child with light at home, is a child able to do his homework when night comes.
Jérôme FROISSART - Directeur AMADE Mondiale
For us as service-team, the AER feels like going on a road-trip with the whole family ! Together we follow the ancient African trails. Together with the complete organization of the AER we give it all to bring our teams to the legendary Lac Rose !
Being true fans of the AER we enjoy the whole concept as you find in no other race, as one of our SSV pilots reminded me, there is only one real race to Dakar !
Wil THEUWS - Team Manager QFF Racing
I am glad that I was standing at the finish line of AER 22 in Dakar at the Pink Lake. It is the goal and dream of all racers who do cross-country races all over the world.
Team Barth Racing
This event created by Jean Louis SCHLESSER and René METGE is a precise cocktail where the pleasure of racing bonds with the beauty of the landscapes and the nice atmosphere between everyone on the bivouacs
Franck ALLARD - AMV assurances
Africa is an happy continent with smiling people, with freedom for racing, thanks a lot to orga work to preserve classic African event based on values from first Dakars... Good luck AER!
Tomas Tomecek - Winner Truck AER 2022
AFRICA ECO RACE is also mutual help and friendship between the competitors
Jean Louis SCHLESSER
Solidarity and unity, the AFRICA ECO RACE is a rally at the origin of our values and this must remains...
Abdou THIAM - Président de la FSAM
The AFRICA ECO RACE is a true human organisation, you really fell that you're a part of a global project with an open and very initimate feeling. So you sleep with very simple thoughts while you reach your goal: Dakar
Franco Acerbis - ACERBIS
The enthusiam and passion of the team as well as their constant research of bringing eco-responsable actions to their event, make the AFRICA ECO RACE one of the unmissable events of the Principality and we are proud to welcome them every year. We encourage everybody to buy a maximum of solar lamps provided by AMADE and AFRICA ECO RACE. More than a daily use, they will enable senegalese and mauritanian children to walk safely home after dark and will contribute to reducing the racing vehicules' carbon footprint.
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