Being a cut or two below the elite in terms of performance has not stopped the Dakar Classic drivers from taking the lead in the hearts —and photo reels— of supporters. Participants in this regularity race, which has been organised on the fringes of the rally since 2021, have won over the public and developed a cult following. This year, 94 crews are slated to start the race in Bisha and tackle a course stretching for a total of 7,246 km, with 4,033 km against the clock
Intergenerational dialogue has been a wild success in the Dakar. In 2021, the bivouac opened its doors to a Regularity race for vintage vehicles. The introduction of the Dakar Classic gave a new lease on life to machines such as Ari Vatanen’s Peugeot 205, Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur’s Porsche 959, Patrick Zaniroli’s Volkswagen Iltis and Jan de Rooy’s DAF double-cab truck in a challenge fit for their age. For example, the oldest vehicles, which are often the least powerful of the lot, are given the option of skipping the toughest dune sections. Furthermore, the data gleaned from the first four editions have been used to refine the categories in line with the average speeds that entrants are supposed to target in defined sectors (H1, H2, H3 and H4).
RECORD MILEAGE
As expected, the updated rule book for the fifth edition of the Dakar Classic has broadened the scope of the event, which is now open to models registered up to 2005. The overall level of difficulty remains unchanged, but the close to a hundred crews on the start line in Bisha will get to grips with a record mileage, with over 4,000 kilometres of selective sections that will sort the best from the rest. An extra limitation will apply to the evening after stage 2A, i.e. while the main race is tackling the 48 h chrono stage.
