The 2023 Dakar Rally was a rally raid event held in Saudi Arabia and the 45th edition of the Dakar Rally organized by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). The event takes place between 31 December 2022 and 15 January 2023. This is the fourth time Saudi Arabia has hosted the event. For the second year running, the event is also the first round of the 2023 World Rally-Raid Championship.
The outline of the race route was presented on 5 June 2022. The route was started at a "Sea Camp" near Yanbu, on the Red Sea shore, and finished in Dammam, at the Persian Gulf shore. The route returned to the Empty Quarter this year with three stages, including the marathon stage. The route featured 70% new tracks, less liaison, and 5,000 kilometres of special stages. The route, details of which were revealed in November, has been described as longer, more difficult and with more dunes.
Timeline 6 June – 31 October 2022: Registrations 28–30 November 2022: Administrative checks at Circuit Paul Ricard 27–28 December 2022: Arrivals at Saudi Arabia 31 December 2022: Starting podium and the Prologue Stage 1 January 2023: Race start 15 January 2023: Race finish
Changes Some changes were announced for this year's event:
Digital roadbooks for all participants, including the bikes Time bonuses for bikes opening the stage "Mirror routes" - in order to separate the routes some stages will be split into "A and B routes", which feature different waypoints, assigned randomly No neutralizations for T1 and T2 categories - the stage will not have breaks in the middle Stage start procedure - the first truck to leave will be from 45th place. No reclassification for top 40 drivers Dakar Classic will follow dedicated route with 13 stages, including 2 marathon. New average speed group for less powerful vehicles Introduction of "synthetic and bio fuels", with expectation that elite drivers will compete in low emission prototypes by 2026
Entry list
On 10 November 2022 ASO announced the list of competitors.
In the truck category, the Kamaz and MAZ factory teams - two of the most dominant teams in the category - elected not to enter the 2023 Dakar Rally due to complaints that the FIA would force them to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine to enter. The two teams are based in Russia and Belarus, respectively.
Number of entries
StageBikesQuadsCarsSxS–T3UTV–T4TrucksTotalClassic CarsClassic TrucksTotal Dakar ClassicEntry list 142 19 74 45 48 55 383 75 14 89At start line 139 18 67 47 45 54 370 75 13 88Rest day 93 12 59 42 43 51 300 71 12 83Finished 80 10 45 39 38 21 233 68 12 80
Vehicles and Categories
CategoryBikesQuadsCarsSxS–T3UTVs–T4TrucksClassic CarsClassic Trucks Class Description Class Description Class Description Class Description Class Description Class Description Class Description Class Description RallyGP A.S.O. "Elite" T1.U T1 electric/hybrid 4x4 modified T3 Light Prototypes T4 Production SSVs turbo Truck>10,000cc Production Trucks -86 Low Average TBC -86 Low Average TBC Rally2 "Non-Elite" Super-Production T1+ T1 upgraded 4x4 modified -86 Intermediate Average TBC -86 Moderate Average TBC T1.1 T1 prototypes 4x4 modified -86 Moderate Average TBC 87-96 Low Average TBC T1.2 T1 prototypes 2WD modified 87-96 Low Average TBC 87-96 Moderate Average TBC T2 T2 Production 87-96 Intermediate Average TBC +97 Moderate Average TBC 87-96 Moderate Average TBC 87-96 High Average TBC +97 Intermediate Average TBC +97 Moderate Average TBC +97 High Average TBC
Competitor list
Note – The "Dakar Legends" - competitors that participated in 10 or more Dakar events. – The first time starters - "rookies". – Competitors that were not able to start the race. – Competitors participating in "Original by Motul" — limited assistance marathon class.