The route of the 44th edition of the Dakar Rally, which will be held between the 2nd and 14th of January 2022, has been revealed in the official presentation of the ASO by its director, David Castera.
For the third consecutive year, the rally will be held entirely in Saudi Arabia. Although it will not visit neighbouring countries, Castera assured that 80% of the tour will be totally unprecedented for the participants.
The start will take place with a prologue in Ha’il to finish 12 stages later in the port city of Jeddah. Following tradition, there will be a marathon stage (where mechanics are not allowed to attend after the stage) just before the only rest day, January 8th in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
An important novelty to ensure this unprecedented route will be the six stages held in the ‘Empty Quarter’, a desert province in the southeast of the country. According to the ASO, three stages will be 100% dunes, looking for more prominence for sand and navigation so that the dirt tracks and their punctures are less decisive.
As a novelty, the presence has also been confirmed of the digital roadbook in the ‘Side by side’ category (SSV), where Joan Lascorz competes, a technology that the cars debuted in the 2021 edition.
