It will begin in 2023 in the dispute of dakar rallyone of the great motoring events and one of the first sporting events of every year. Saudi Arabia hosts for the fourth consecutive edition the world’s toughest raid, looking for winners in its usual categories, with motorcycles, cars, quads, trucks, light prototypes and SSVs as the main categories.
The race is undergoing several changes this year and one of the most important is to the route. The usual twelve stages were extended to fourteen, in a test that therefore extends its length and hardness. will be sixteen days of competition, with a prologue and fourteen episodes from December 31 to January 15with a single rest day on Monday, January 9. This way, it will take extra effort from the drivers and their cars to complete the test.
Dakar 2023 will consist of 8,549 kilometers, of which 4,706 are in timed specials. Participants will cross Saudi Arabia from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf through a terrain with longer stages, with lots of sand and lots of sand. One of the hardest places this year is the ‘Empty Quarter’, the great Saudi desert where the four stages will pass in the final part of the test. Among them, an earlier stage of the marathon, without technical assistance, which will be held on the eleventh and twelfth days.
The organization chose, after years of pandemic, to withdraw the original spirit of Dakar in camps. In addition, they have neutralizations removed, a situation that will give more importance to the pilots’ strategy. Among them, a large list of Spaniards will meet again in search of different goals, such as finishing the race or winning.
Throughout history, only Nani Rome (2004 motorcycles), Marc Coma (2006, 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2015 motorcycles), Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz (2010, 2018 and 2020 cars) and Moses Torrellardona (trucks 2016) managed to win the overall Dakar Rally in Spain in one of the main categories of vehicles. This time there will again be a large list of Spanish pilots ready to add to the list.
Sainz and Cruz lead the Spanish participation with a new presence in cars. In this category there will also be other veterans like Isidre Esteve together José María Villalobos or Laia Sanz. Besides, Armand Monleon will be co-pilot of Jakub Przygonskianother of the important men, the same role they will play Alex Haro together Orlando Newfoundland either Daniel Oliveras together Juan Cruz Yacopini.
In motorcycles, the presence of Joan Barredawho will lead a Spanish bloc with Lorenzo Santolino, Eduardo Iglesias, Joan Pedrero or Sandra Gómez, among others. Another of the Spanish leaders will be Christina Gutierrez, which will participate in light prototypes after adding a stage last year. There will be a large Spanish presence in this category and in SSV T4, with Oriol Vidal and Gerard Farrés in command, and trucks, with Moises Torrallardona and Jordi Juvanteny as featured. Toni Vingut and Daniel Vila They will compete in quads.
The Dakar will have the presence of many big motor names. In the main categories, Nasser Al-Attiyah He will defend his title for his fifth victory. It can be counted as great rival as Sainzin search of the fourth, or Stephane Peterhansel, who will be fighting for his fifteenth overall victory and for ninth in the cars. In motorcycles he defends his victory sam sunderland looking for a third overall win. Toby Price will also find the third, Ricky Brabec the second and Joan Barreda or Pablo Benavides They will try to make their test debut.
Dakar Rally 2023 stage schedules
All information is in Spanish peninsular period (two more hours in Saudi Arabia). The time of departure of the first vehicle of the main categories is indicated. In the same way, this is the first schedule sent by the organization and is subject to changes in the course of the race. Departures will take place, therefore, in the very first hours of the morning.
Prologue (Saturday, December 31, Sea Camp – Sea Camp, 11 km of special). Departure of motorcycles: 6.15 hours. Departure of vehicles: 9.00 hours
First episode (Sunday, January 1, Sea Camp – Sea Camp, 234 liaison kilometers, 367 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.30 hours. Departure of vehicles: 8.05 hours
2nd period (Monday, January 2, Sea Camp – Al Ula, 158 liaison kilometers, 430 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.30 hours. Departure of vehicles: 8.05 hours
3rd period (Tuesday, January 3, Al Ula – Ha’il, 221 liaison kilometers, 447 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.30 hours. Departure of vehicles: 8.05 hours
4th episode (Wednesday, January 4, Ha’il – Ha’il, 148 liaison kilometers, 425 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.30 hours. Departure of vehicles: 7.40 hours
5th episode (Thursday, January 5, Ha’il – Ha’il, 270 liaison kilometers, 373 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.25 hours. Departure of vehicles: 7.35 hours
6th episode (Friday, January 6, Ha’il – Al Duwadimi, 409 liaison kilometers, 467 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.50 hours. Departure of vehicles: 7.55 hours
7th episode (Saturday, January 7, Al Duwadimi – Al Duwadimi, 167 liaison kilometers, 472 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.10 hours. Departure of vehicles: 7.40 hours
8th episode (Sunday, January 8, Al Duwadimi – Riyadh, 315 liaison kilometers, 398 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.00 hours. Departure of vehicles: 7.25 hours
Monday, January 9, rest day
Episode 9 (Tuesday, January 10, Riad – Haradh, 328 liaison kilometers, 358 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.00 hours. Departure of vehicles: 7.05 hours
10th episode (Wednesday, January 11, Haradh – Shaybah, 509 liaison kilometers, 113 special). Departure of motorcycles: 7.50 hours. Departure of vehicles: 9.55 hours
11th episode (Thursday, January 12, Shaybah – Empty Quarter Marathon, 153 liaison kilometers, 273 special). Departure of motorcycles: 4.35 hours. Departure of vehicles: 6.40 hours
12th episode (Friday, January 13, Empty Quarter Marathon – Shaybah, 191 liaison kilometers, 185 special). Departure of motorcycles: 4.50 hours. Departure of vehicles: 6.55 hours
13th episode (Saturday, January 14, Shaybah – Al-Hofuf, 520 liaison kilometers, 154 special). Departure of motorcycles: 4.35 hours. Departure of vehicles: 6.35 hours
14th episode (Sunday, January 15, Al-Hofuf – Dammam, 280 liaison kilometers, 136 special). Departure of motorcycles: 5.50 hours. Departure of vehicles: 8.02 hours
Where to watch the 2023 Dakar Rally?
The Dakar Rally 2023 can be followed, as before, by GP systems offered by the organization on its website, where it is possible to follow the location and the points of passage of different pilots. In addition, many television channels will offer detailed coverage of what will happen in the race.
teleport He will not miss his appointment in Dakar this year. This will be done through two aspects. From Monday, January 2, at 5:00 p.mwill be offered daily ‘Flash Dakar’, a short five-minute program with the first photos and results of the day. Later, from 10:00 p.mthe chain will offer its usual program space ‘Dakar 2023’ with a comprehensive summary of everything that happened during the day. On January 10, 11 and 12, the start of the program will be delayed until 10:15 pm.
the catalan chain Sports3 It will also strictly follow everything that happens in the exam. It will be done every day from January 1 with a special program that will both be aired on 3:30 pm to 8:45 pm
Eurosport it will also offer information about what will happen in the race. This will be done by a summary of one hour per day from 9:00 p.m It can be seen in the rebroadcast on Eurosport 2 in 11:00 p.m These channels are available on DAZN and in various Movistar Plus or Vodafone packages.
The race can also be followed by summaries of Red Bull TV and for official Dakar channels on YouTube, Facebook and Dailymotion. On these four platforms, the organization will offer videos and photos along with all the news about what will happen in the trial.
In addition, you can follow all the information about the race for Mundo Deportivo website, which will experience the race ‘in situ’ and will do a wide range of tests.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
