For the First Time Ever, Saudi Arabia Hosts the Renowned Dakar Rally 2020
For decades now, the Dakar Rally has been all over the forests of South America as well as the endless African landscapes, but never have the organizers planned for the race to take place outside these two continents.
Well, this is about to change as this year’s edition will be at the heart of Saudi Arabia, offering racers an adventure like no other.
According to The National, on January 5 of next year, the most challenging motorsport of all time is coming to the kingdom with expert drivers and their modified cars, trucks, quads, SxS, and motorbikes to test their skills in the daring deserts of Saudi.
The route of the race starts at Jeddah and then moves along the Red Sea coastline and passes by Saudi’s mega tourism project, the Red Sea Project, and finally, it reaches the desert and mountain terrains of Qiddiya.
During their journey, contestants will pass by Neom, a city in the northwest of Saudi Arabia designed to include sustainable infrastructure and to become an economic powerhouse in the region. There is a single scheduled day in Riyadh for contestants to rest.
“While we are very pleased to have signed a multi-year agreement to bring the Dakar Rally to Saudi Arabia, we are excited to welcome the world to the Kingdom to see and experience the breathtaking scenery and stunning landscape that our deserts have to offer,” Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi General Sports Authority said.
The race will give tourists the chance to experience the beautiful dunes and extensive landscape of the kingdom.
In a statement by Prince Khalid bin Sultan Abdullah Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, Saudi Arabia has a number of one-of-a-kind and challenging desert terrains, where contestants will have to maneuver their way through the daunting, yet breathtaking, landscapes.
“We promise contestants new challenges, including stages in the vast, majestic and mysterious desert of the Empty Quarter. Dakar Saudi Arabia 2020 will be an off-road racing adventure like never before.”
