The Dakar Classic has held a special place on the historic rally scene ever since its inception in 2021. Over a hundred crews show up every year for a challenge far beyond the run-of-the-mill vintage car enthusiast meeting. Endurance is the name of the game, with nearly 3,900 km of selective sections in 2027, when 90% of the route will be brand new. For the thrill and for the photo, the “vintage” competitors will also take on one of the final-route specials with a mass start.
While the basic regularity race concept and the eligibility criteria —cars and trucks designed up until 2005— remain the same, the seventh edition will introduce a few changes to emphasise the extreme dimension of the Dakar Classic and rationalise the speed groups.
SECRET NAVIGATION TEST
In certain navigation-heavy specials, road books will be handed out at the start of the special instead of the exit from the bivouac, preventing crews with cutting-edge equipment from gaining an advantage.
XXL STAGES
One of the things that make the Dakar Classic the Dakar Classic is the length of its selective sections, with a daily total of almost 350 km. However, this distance is broken down among several heterogeneous sections. Starting this year, the Classic field will face a new challenge: a weekly XXL stage in which the regularity special will be run as a single block. No time-outs, no respite for navigators.
SUPER REGULARITY TEST
The 2026 edition introduced a new type of selective section combining the two main aspects of the discipline: regularity and navigation. It put the field through its paces and delivered a true Dakar challenge, so it will return in multiple stages of the 2027 Dakar Classic.
REBALANCED SPEED GROUPS
Finding the right pace for the right car is easier said than done. In a bid to rebalance the field across the four existing classes, crews will no longer be able to freely choose their speed group; the level of performance of their vehicles will be a factor too. For example, the H1 group, which has the lowest average speed, will now be restricted to a certain type of car, including the Fiat Panda, 2CV and R18 entries seen in previous editions. Likewise, the most modern cars with the most oomph will have to pick between groups H3 and H4.
