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.”

2022 DAKAR STATS

• 578 total vehicles
• 430 vehicles in the race
• Another 148 in the Dakar Classic (128 cars, 20 trucks)
• 149 motorcycles
• 21 quads
• 97 cars
• 58 trucks
• 44 T3 and 61 T4
• 209 Rookies
• 130 Legends
• 34 Originals
• 63 nationalities
• 60 women
• 5 all-female crews

2022 DAKAR ROUTE ‘REVEAL’ VIDEO