THE ROUTE
Planning the 2008 Dakar began, rather appropriately, with a challenge; that of mapping out the route. The stages we have in mind will give competitors a path across Africa that is just as diverse but with even more of a sporty edge. This year’s planned itinerary includes longer specials than in prior years; the meter was blocked at 4,300 km in 2007 due to some changes, but exceeded 4,800 km for the timed segments in 2006. Next January, competitors will embark on an almost 6,000 km road and off-road adventure. As a result, the road sections will be shorter.
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| DATE | START | FINISH | CONNECTION | SPECIAL | CONNECTION | TOTAL |
| 05/01/08 | Lisboa | Portimão | 104 km | 120 km | 262 km | 486 km |
| 06/01/08 | Portimão | Málaga | 15 km | 60 km | 460 km | 535 km |
| 07/01/08 | Nador | Er Rachidia | 182 km | 372 km | 163 km | 717 km |
| 08/01/08 | Er Rachidia | Ouarzazate | 29 km | 356 km | 199 km | 584 km |
| 09/01/08 | Ouarzazate | Guelmim | 188 km | 498 km | 148 km | 834 km |
| 10/01/08 | Guelmim | Smara | 66 km | 454 km | 105 km | 625 km |
| 11/01/08 | Smara | Atâr | 198 km | 619 km | 12 km | 829 km |
| 12/01/08 | Atâr | Nouakchott | 44 km | 450 km | 37 km | 531 km |
| 13/01/08 | Rest Day | |||||
| 14/01/08 | Nouakchott | Nouhadibou | 37 km | 525 km | 86 km | 648 km |
| 15/01/08 | Nouhadibou | Atâr | 111 km | 552 km | 22 km | 685 km |
| 16/01/08 | Atâr | Tidjikja | 35 km | 524 km | 133 km | 692 km |
| 17/01/08 | Tidjikja | Kiffa | 131 km | 398 km | 2 km | 531 km |
| 18/01/08 | Kiffa | Kiffa | 25 km | 484 km | 6 km | 515 km |
| 19/01/08 | Kiffa | Saint-Louis | 326 km | 301 km | 130 km | 757 km |
| 20/01/08 | Saint-Louis | Dakar | 239 km | 23 km | 42 km | 304 km |
| TOTAL | 1 730 km | 5 736 km | 1 807 km | 9 273 km | ||
Portugal - A familiar air
According to an old saying, a habit takes hold the first time. This is exactly what Dakar organisers and competitors experienced last year upon returning to Lisbon, which they had already visited in 2006. The white-walled city not only lived up to Dakar’s quality standards for a host city, but also seduced Dakar participants through its people’s enthusiasm. Almost a million fans lined the routes of the two 2007 specials to encourage racers headed for Africa. Their energetic spirit set them apart and sent competitors off on a wave of positive momentum.
The Dakar in Portugal
- 2 visits (2006, 2007)
- 4 stages
- Stage-cities : Lisbon, Portimao
STAGE 1 - 05/01/2008
Lisboa > Portimão
Connection: 104 km | Special: 120 km | Connection: 262 km
Total: 486 km
STAGE 2 - 06/01/2008
Portimão > Málaga
Connection: 15 km | Special: 60 km | Connection: 460 km
Total: 535 km
Morocco - Gateway to Africa
Morocco has always played a key role in the Dakar adventure, as it represents the gateway into Africa and the first tricky stages. Drivers must keep a sharp eye out from the start because the falls from grace can be brutal. For example, the two-time Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka was stopped abruptly by a serious forward barrel roll on the route between Er Rachidia and Ouarzazate in 2006 – despite the fact that he had successfully completed the rally 11 times between 1994 and 2004! The year before, Vladimir Chagin, who seemed on track to win a record number of titles, tipped his Kamaz truck on the same path.
The Dakar in Morocco
- 12 visits (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
- 40 stages
- Usual stage-cities : Tanger, Er Rachidia, Rabat, Ouarzazate, Agadir, Tan-Tan…
STAGE 3 - 07/01/2008
Nador > Er Rachidia
Connection: 182 km | Special: 372 km | Connection: 163 km
Total: 717 km
STAGE 4 - 08/01/2008
Er Rachidia > Ouarzazate
Connection: 29 km | Special: 356 km | Connection: 199 km
Total : 584 km
STAGE 5 - 09/01/2008
Ouarzazate > Guelmim
Connection: 188 km | Special: 498 km | Connection: 148 km
Total : 834 km
STAGE 6 - 10/01/2008
Guelmim > Smara
Connection: 66 km | Special: 454 km | Connection: 105 km
Total : 625 km
Mauritania - Full-on in the desert
The race across Mauritania is always a turning point in the Dakar. Anything can happen in the Mauritanian sand which has been welcoming the rally warmly since 1983. Amid the country’s shifting landscape, both sublime and breathtaking, competitors should must forget that their main focus is navigation. Gaps between racers become measured in hours as they travel from Atar to Nouakchott, passing through Nema and Ayoun-El-Atrous, and leaders succumb to disappointments. For example, in 2004 Cyril Despres strayed off-course for an hour near Tidjikja and realised that his dreams of victory must wait for another year.
The Dakar in Mauritania
- 19 visits (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
- 87 stages
- Usual stage-cities : Zouerat, Atar, Nouakchott, Tichit, Kiffa, Tidjikja, Nema, Ayoun-el-Atrous
STAGE 7 - 11/01/2008
Smara > Atâr
Connection: 198 km | Special: 619 km | Connection: 12 km
Total: 829 km
STAGE 8 - 12/01/2008
Atâr > Nouakchott
Connection: 44 km | Special: 450 km | Connection: 37 km
Total: 531 km
STAGE 9 - 14/01/2008
Nouakchott > Nouhadibou
Connection: 37 km | Special: 525 km | Connection: 86 km
Total: 648 km
STAGE 10 - 15/01/2008
Nouhadibou > Atâr
Connection: 111 km | Special: 552 km | Connection: 22 km
Total: 685 km
STAGE 11 - 16/01/2008
Atâr > Tidjikja
Connection: 35 km | Special: 524 km | Connection: 133 km
Total: 692 km
STAGE 12 - 17/01/2008
Tidjikja > Kiffa
Connection: 131 km | Special: 398 km | Connection: 2 km
Total: 531 km
STAGE 13 - 18/01/2008
Kiffa > Kiffa
Connection: 25 km | Special: 484 km | Connection: 6 km
Total: 515 km
STAGE 14 - 19/01/2008
Kiffa > Saint-Louis
Connection: 326 km | Special: 301 km | Connection: 130 km
Total: 757 km
Senegal - Crossing the line
Senegal and its emblematic capital are fundamentally associated with the largest rally in the world, the Dakar. Competitors’ arrival at the finish line is synonymous with celebration and passion, and triggers the enthusiasm of the Senegalese people. And while Dakar is the ideal place to end the three-week adventure which is as challenging as it is unforgettable, the last stretch towards the finish line is not the easiest. Senegal offers a lesson in humility and patience. In 2007, Marc Coma, who had been in the lead since the first African stage, crashed after completing his first kilometers in Senegal.
The Dakar in Senegal
- 26 visits (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
- 80 stages
- Usual stage-cities: Saint-Louis, Lac Rose, Tambacounda
STAGEE 15 - 20/01/2008
Saint-Louis > Dakar
Connection: 239 km | Special: 23 km | Connection: 42 km
Total: 304 km
