The 1st RallyClassics Africa gets underway from the dunes of Merzouga

24 teams have started the 1st RallyClassics Africa, the new regularity rally-raid open to classic and modern 4x4s.
Along five stages, the teams will face a route of more than 700 kilometres of regularity through the spectacular landscapes of the Merzouga and Erfoud areas.
The presence of the legendary Seat Toledo Marathon from Seat Históricos and the participation of different teams with experience in the Dakar Rally, the main attractions of this edition.

After many months of preparations, the 1st RallyClassics Africa is now underway. The Tombouctou Hotel in Merzouga, at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes, has been the setting chosen for the start of the first of the five stages that make up this event.

RallyClassics Africa was born with the aim of becoming a reference off-road regularity event, with the particularity of allowing the participation of classic and modern 4x4s, as well as SSV vehicles and trucks.

For Alex Romani, president of Club RallyClassics, “today we start an event that we are convinced has enormous potential. RallyClassics Africa has been created as a regularity school for the Dakar Classic, but also as an adventure for amateur teams that want to enjoy off-road with their vehicles, always maintaining the RallyClassics spirit, based on quality events, with fair-play and fun for all”.

In this sense, this first edition has been designed in close collaboration with Josep Maria Servià and Fina Román, true specialists in this discipline, seeking a well-structured route that represents a challenge for all teams, regardless of their previous experience.

The stages are in a loop format and are designed to last half a day, offering the teams enough time to prepare for the next stage and enjoy the tourist possibilities that the area offers.

The stages of RallyClassics Africa will be held between 17^th and 21st September.

24 teams and lots of quality

If something defines the entry list for this first edition, it is quality. Among the participating teams we can find many off-road specialists with experience in the Dakar (Dirk Van Rompuy/Chris Goris, Amy Lerner/Sara Bossaert, Vincent Tourneur/Christian Lambert, Asier Duarte/Luís Barbero, Marcel Quirós /Daniel Ramos, among others) and renowned drivers and co-drivers in the historic motorsports scene, such as Jorge Pérez-Companc, Jean Marie Lurquin or Lorenzo Fluxà.

The structures of TH-Trucks Team and Pedregà Team, both essential to understand the panorama of 4×4 competition in Spain, are also present providing assistance to different teams.

And of course, all eyes are on the Seat Históricos team, which is participating with the legendary Seat Toledo Marathon with Antonio Rius and Pablo Moreno, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the brand’s most iconic cars.

The Spanish brand’s participation is completed by three Seat Ateca Marathon prepared exclusively for RallyClassics Africa, driven by Javier Hernández/Raquel Cecilia, Álvaro Turiel/Antonio Angulo and Joan Dalmau/Aran Sol.

RallyClassics Africa, with those affected by the Marrakech earthquake

Although the region where this event is held was left out of the earthquake suffered in the country last week, the RallyClassics Africa organization has worked to provide support to those affected, offering the teams different options to make donations in collaboration with Grup Xaluca and local authorities. So far, more than 200 kg of warm clothing has been donated. The Moroccan Ministry of Tourism has highlighted these days the importance of maintaining tourist activities in the country, with the aim of ensuring that the Moroccan economy is not further affected by this catastrophe.