A raid into the extreme
This will be the philosophy for the 2006 edition of the Dakar. Because we have chosen to mix and alternate difficulties so as to make each stage a “concentrate” of what a rally is and of all the qualities required to make a good rallyman, or rallywoman. There will be tracks, fast or stony, sand and crossings. And navigation. A lot of navigation to find the numerous first-time passes throughout the route. Because in the term rally-raid, there is the word raid. Because, also and above all, the Dakar is the extreme event.
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See the route in flash (french version)
| Date |
Departure > Arrival |
Liaison |
Special |
Liaison |
Total |
| 31/12/05 |
Lisboa > Portimão |
186 km |
83 km |
101 km |
370 km |
| 01/01/06 |
Portimão > Málaga |
65 km |
115 km |
387 km |
567 km |
| 02/01/06 |
Nador > Er Rachidia |
237 km |
314 km |
121 km |
672 km |
| 03/01/06 |
Er Rachidia > Ouarzazate |
56 km |
386 km |
197 km |
639 km |
| 04/01/06 |
Ouarzazate > Tan Tan |
187 km |
350 km |
282 km |
819 km |
| 05/01/06 |
Tan Tan > Zouérat |
336 km |
444 km |
12 km |
792 km |
| 06/01/06 |
Zouérat > Atâr |
10 km |
499 km |
12 km |
521 km |
| 07/01/06 |
Atâr > Nouakchott |
34 km |
508 km |
26 km |
568 km |
| 08/01/06 |
Rest day - Nouakchott |
| 09/01/06 |
Nouakchott > Kiffa |
30 km |
599 km |
245 km |
874 km |
| 10/01/06 |
Kiffa > Kayes |
1 km |
283 km |
49 km |
333 km |
| 11/01/06 |
Kayes > Bamako |
50 km |
231 km |
424 km |
705 km |
| 12/01/06 |
Bamako > Labé |
197 km |
368 km |
307 km |
872 km |
| 13/01/06 |
Labé > Tambacounda |
7 km |
348 km |
212 km |
567 km |
| 14/01/06 |
Tambacounda > Dakar |
107 km |
254 km |
273 km |
634 km |
| 15/01/06 |
Dakar > Dakar |
38 km |
31 km |
41 km |
110 km |
| |
TOTAL |
1 541 km |
4 813 km |
2 689 km |
9 043 km |
Raid : A long route which highlights the sturdiness of equipment and the stamina of participants
(Source: Petit Robert, Dictionary of the French language. June 2000)
Sporting aspects
Pre start operations
• From 28 to 30 December 2005: Administrative checks and scrutineering.
• From 28 December 2005 at 15.00: Opening of Press Centre.
European specials
From the first day, competitors will be getting right into the swing of things. 200 kilometres of specials are awaiting them in Europe. So there won’t be any warm-up lap.
• 31 December 2005: Lisbon – Portimão: an 83-kilometre special.
• 1 January 2006: Portimão – Malaga: a 115-kilometre special.
Rest day
For the first time, the rest day will be taking place in Nouakchott on Sunday 8 January.
Finish in Dakar
Sunday 15 January 2006: Podium, prize-awarding and evening closing ceremonies.
Sporting particularities
• stage without assistance, from Bamako to Labé.
Once in Labé, crews may deal with their vehicles but will have to do without the help of their assistance teams.
• Increasing importance of navigation.
Competitors will only have three sources of information,: the hidden waypoints, the road-book and the direction followed. Navigation will be regaining its colours on the 2006 Dakar.
Key figures
Longest stage: Nouakchott > Kiffa, 874 km.
Shortest stage: Dakar > Dakar, 110 km.
Longest special: Nouakchott > Kiffa, 599 km.
Shortest special: Dakar > Dakar, 31 km.
4,813 kilometres of specials, including 1,248 before Mauritania for a total kilometre count of 9,043.
Portugal: 2 stages.
Morocco: 3 stages.
Mauritania: 4 stages.
Mali: 2 stages.
Guinea: 1 stages.
Senegal: 3 stages.
