Portugal - Spain


With its geographical position providing a link between Europe and Africa, Portugal was a natural venue for hosting the Dakar. The weeks spent working out the route showed us that the region has much more to offer than just being a sumptuous setting for the big start. After sweet and gentle Lisbon, it will be straight down to sport, competition and genuine rally raid. This year, there will be no prologue, but spectacle will definitely be on the menu. The two Portuguese specials will be worthy of the finest hours of the Baja of the same name. But spare those machines, this is just the beginning of the rally.


Administrative checks & scrutineering (Centro Cultural de Belém)
28, 29 and 30 december



At the end of scrutineering, vehicles go into a mixed zone, before final checks. All vehicles are then placed in the Enclosed Parking Area.

• Car, bike & quad enclosed parking area: Rua Bartolomeu Dias, in front of the Jeronimos Monastery.
• Truck enclosed parking area: Praca do Imperio.
• No «assistance» enclosed parking area: after checks, assistance vehicles are free. Assistance vehicles are free throughout Europe and, in Lisbon, they can park on the unloading car-park at the motorway exit, at Praca de Dom Manuel, at the entrance to the Avenida de India.

On the 1st January 2006, after the second special, bike and quad competitors will be allowed to load their machines up to the embarkation port time check (CH) which they may pass with their engines running.



STAGE 1: LISBOA > PORTIMÃO - Saturday, December 31st, 2005

Liaison: 186 km - Special: 83 km - Liaison: 101 km
Total: 370 km

The tracks of Alentejo
Fine-tuning the preparation of the machine and testing its capacities in racing conditions are the usual exercises in Europe. For the first time, competitors must also try out their hand at navigation. Tracks, and fast ones at that, are ideal for riding and driving, but there will be as many traps as there are changes in direction. There will be a real overall classification on New Year's Eve.



STAGE 2: PORTIMÃO > MÁLAGA - Sundau, January 1st, 2006

Liaison: 65 km - Special: 115 km - Liaison: 387 km
Total: 567 km

The ridges of Algarve
A special of over 100 kms in Europe: another first. On this fast and mountainous track, the thrill of riding and drivng and the beauty of the site sometimes remind us of the famous Pikes Peak rise in Colorado. After a special fought out against a backdrop of true wonder, Spain will just be a 400-km liaison through to the landing stage in Malaga. The crossing lasts seven hours.