The route of the 45th edition of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, the first round of the 2023 FIA and FIM World Rally Championship, has been unveiled.
After a start on 31 December 2022 in a Sea Camp on the Red Sea, the competitors will cross the now familiar sites of AlUla, Ha’il and Riyadh, before staying for 4 days in the Empty Quarter. At the end of nearly 5,000 kilometres spread over 14 stages, the 45th edition of the Dakar will reach the shores of the Arabian Gulf with a finish on 15 January 2023 in Dammam.
THE ROUTE
Starting on a Sea Camp on the shores of the Red Sea and ending on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula, where the competitors will discover the coast of the Arabian Gulf after a four-day adventure through the Empty Quarter, including the marathon stage, the 45th edition of the Dakar is the toughest one since the rally came to Saudi Arabia. Packing almost 5,000 kilometres of specials into a prologue and 14 stages, the route is a true test of extreme endurance.
| STAGE | DATE | START AND FINISH | RACE DISTANCE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Special | ||||
| P | Saturday, december 31, 2022 | SEA CAMP > SEA CAMP | 10 km | 10 km | PROLOGUE |
| 1 | Sunday, january 1, 2023 | SEA CAMP > SEA CAMP | 603 km | 368 km | STAGE 1 |
| 2 | Monday, january 2, 2023 | SEA CAMP > AL ULA | 590 km | 431 km | STAGE 2 |
| 3 | Tuesday, january 3, 2023 | AL ULA > HA’IL | 669 km | 447 km | STAGE 3 |
| 4 | Wednesday, january 4, 2023 | HA’IL > HA’IL | 573 km | 425 km | STAGE 4 |
| 5 | Thursday, january 5, 2023 | HA’IL > HA’IL | 646 km | 375 km | STAGE 5 |
| 6 | Friday, january 6, 2023 | HA’IL > AL DUWADIMI | 876.68 km | 466 km | STAGE 6 |
| 7 | Saturday, january 7, 2023 | AL DUWADIMI > AL DUWADIMI | 641.47 km | 473 km | STAGE 7 |
| 8 | Sunday, january 8, 2023 | AL DUWADIMI > RIYADH | 722.41 km | 407 km | STAGE 8 |
| – | Monday, january 9, 2023 | RIYADH | REST | |
| 9 | Tuesday, january 10, 2023 | RIYADH > HARADH | 710 km | 439 km | STAGE 9 |
| 10 | Wednesday, january 11, 2023 | HARADH > SHAYBAH | 623 km | 114 km | STAGE 10 |
| 11 | Thursday, january 12, 2023 | SHAYBAH > EMPTY QUARTER MARATHON | 426 km | 275 km | STAGE 11 |
| 12 | Friday, january 13, 2023 | EMPTY QUARTER MARATHON > SHAYBAH | 375 km | 185 km | STAGE 12 |
| 13 | Saturday, january 14, 2023 | SHAYBAH > AL-HOFUF | 669 km | 154 km | STAGE 13 |
| 14 | Sunday, january 15, 2023 | AL-HOFUF > DAMMAM | 414 km | 136 km | STAGE 14 |
