Morocco 2026: 272 vehicles from 47 countries departing from Agadir

The 27th edition of the OLA Energy Rally du Maroc was launched today, Monday, from the city of Agadir, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, with the participation of 272 vehicles representing 47 nationalities from around the world, in a competition that will continue until October 3 in the city of Zagora. International stars in the competition This session witnesses the presence of some of the most prominent stars of the Sahrawi rally, led by Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, the current leader of the world championship ranking of the International Federation For cars, and Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, who are competing within the Dacia team after being crowned the title of the last two editions of the rally. Alongside them are other stars, most notably Daniel Sanders, Luciano Benavides, Carlos Sainz, Nani Roma, Matthias Ekström and Saudi Yazeed Al-Rajhi. The Moroccan delegation includes six vehicles with seven contestants. Loeb has previously expressed admiration for Morocco, saying that the country offers great beauty in its landscapes and trails, praising Moroccan hospitality. Competition Categories and Distance Competes Participants in two main categories, motorcycles under the umbrella of the International Motorcycle Federation, and cars under the umbrella of the International Automobile Federation, in addition to the Classic Morocco Rally, which is held for the first time this year with the participation of 24 classic vehicles and old trucks, mostly of the 1980s model. Total Distance and Special Stages by Category Category Total Distance Special Stages Motorcycles (FIM) 2,633 km 1,526 km Motor Vehicles (FIA) 2,696 km 1,589 km Program The activities of the first day kicked off with a pilot phase for motorcycles and quad bikes in Agadir, in addition to the Chic Down phase for cars and trucks. The first phase will start tomorrow, Tuesday, from Agadir towards Tata and then Zagora, within a total of five phases that go according to the clover leaf system around the central camp, before the final arrival in Zagora on October 3. The rally is being organised by race director Mark Coma, under the direction of the organising company Ulla Energy. The importance of the rally within the world championship and gaining The Morocco rally is especially important as it is one of the stations of the FIA Desert Rally World Cup, as it grants decisive points in the race towards the world title before the end of the season, making Loeb and Al-Attiyah's performance this week a major determinant of the championship ranking. The event also represents an important tributary of sports tourism in the southern regions of the Kingdom, from Agadir to Tata and Zakoura. The choice of Agadir as a starting point for the sixth time confirms its status as a traditional gateway to desert rallying in Morocco.