Africa Eco Race Is Underway (However They Aren’t Racing But) – Journey Rider

‘Tis the season to race! The 2024 Dakar Rally will get underway on January 5, and the Africa Eco Race is already underway, type of. The fifteenth version of the race kicked off in Monaco on December 30, however as of January 1, the members haven’t really began racing but.

That’s as a result of whereas the Eco Race begins in Europe and runs into Africa, the vehicles/automobiles/ATVs/bikes aren’t really competing till they get to Morocco. As per the Eco Race’s PR:

This system for this final day of the 12 months included a free switch between Monaco and Sète, the place everybody will board on the GNV ferry. The boat will then head for Nador in northern Morocco for a 36-hour crossing of the Mediterranean Sea. After celebrating New Yr’s Eve, the primary day of the brand new 12 months will probably be dedicated to briefings and coaching on navigation and security devices.

The second night time on board ends very early on Tuesday, January 2, with disembarkation scheduled for six:00 am. After customs formalities and a hearty breakfast, the members will head south to Boudnib, the place the AFRICA ECO RACE caravan will take up residence, after 600 kilometers together with 175 of particular phases.

So, the racing begins tomorrow (January 2). You may see some footage of the opening ceremony beneath:

Lastly, lastly, the organizers have gotten round to posting the entry listing for the bike class. You may see it right here, however right here’s the TL/DR: It seems that no Individuals are using this 12 months, or Australians, both. There’s one Canadian listed, Michael Gros for the Yamaha Tenere World Raid staff.

In any other case, the listing is nearly fully French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and so forth. The Eco Race remains to be very a lot a Euro-centric occasion, not like the Dakar Rally’s international attraction.  There aren’t any Kove 450s on the Eco Race (though area of interest Euro bikes like AJP are represented).

See the teaser for this 12 months’s race route beneath: