2022 DAKAR RALLY: THE GOOD OIL!

Okay, so you’re alive. You’ve survived Xmas with the in-laws, several food comas, overexuberant New Year’s celebrations, and an almost certain run-in with Omicron. Now what? Well, now it’s January 1 and time to hunker down for your daily dose of the 2022 Dakar Rally, is what! And no doubt most Aussies will be most interested in the progress of a couple of Aussies – KTM’s Toby Price and GASGAS’s Daniel Sanders – both of whom head into the event as genuine contenders for the coveted win.

A few weeks back, with typical pomp and ceremony – and a few blatant backhanders to Saudi Arabia’s blossoming tourism aspirations – details of the official 2022 Dakar Rally route and entry make-up were revealed. Here are the key points that’ll help you get your head around the 44^th running of this incredible event, which takes place over 12 stages between January 1 and 14.

THE 2022 ROUTE

8000km total distance
4300km of special tests
Two Marathon stages, where no outside assistance is allowed
For the first time, the Dakar will be part of the FIA and FIM world championships
According to organisers, “The 2022 route – the event’s third outing in Saudi Arabia – is Sand Galore. The main course on the menu is sand, a local specialty. Competitors will tuck into a hearty meal of dunes and tracks, served in tones ranging from ochre and saffron to golden brown with a dash of coral here and there. This exceptional backdrop will set the stage for a gathering worthy of the halcyon days of the Dakar, first in Jeddah and shortly afterwards in Ha’il, where the field will set out to tame the desert, take a break in Riyadh and then head back towards the shores of the Red Sea.”