After the confirmation that the start of the 7th edition of AFRICA ECO RACE will be held on December 28th 2014 in SAINT CYPRIEN, just about 20km away from Perpignan, it is now the time for to unveil the full race without forgetting the extra stage in Mauritania.
Here are few details concerning the course. Obviously, we will come back to it a bit later, once the reco team is back as they are finalizing everything.
Checks in SAINT CYPRIEN – France
Monday December 29th 2014
Transfer SAINT CYPRIEN / SOUTH OF SPAIN
Boat to NADOR – Morocco.
Tuesday December 30th 2014
STAGE 1: NADOR / ERRACHIDIA
A short liaison and a first interesting selective section in terms of navigation on a large rocky track, good visibility with a hilly landscape in a big nice steppe. Then, a liaison that will bring all the competitors towards the first bivouac, crossing the superb region of Ifrane.
Wednesday December 31st 2014
STAGE 2: ERRACHIDIA / TAGOUNITE
This stage will give competitors the opportunity to attack the dunes and where navigation will play an important part. They will travel across very nice valleys before joining the bivouac after a long day marked by all kind of different landscapes. At the bivouac, a great St Sylvester meal will be waiting in order to celebrate New Year’s Eve and charge their batteries.
Thursday January 1st 2015
STAGE 3: TAGOUNITE / ASSA
For the first selective section of the year 2015, the competitors will face the first big dunes of the rally then they’ ll find sinuous tracks, a real pleasure in terms of driving! They’ll have to enjoy as they rapidly find more conventional tracks of southern Morocco, which are delicate and bumpy. The scenery will be superb along the mountains on a good track with some rocky portions.
Friday January 2nd 2015
STAGE 4: ASSA / AS SAKN
The stage will start with little passes before coming back on a sandy track with beautiful surroundings. Then will follow the descent of a breath taking pass with a panoramic view. The second part will be very quick and will become sinuous on a very good track before ending with a nice sandy track.
Saturday January 3rd 2015
STAGE 5: AS SAKN / DAKHLA
For the end of the Moroccan week, the competitors will deal with a rocky track still fast, until a beautiful descent in a huge oued. The track will then become sinuous with a lot of navigation in the magnificent oued Hamra. To join the bivouac, the competitors will drive along a cliff overlooking on the Atlantic Ocean.
Sunday January 4th 2015
REST DAY IN DAKHLA
Here is a long awaited day for everyone on the rally caravan, the « rest » day. This day will be the opportunity to recover, repair if needed and get ready for beautiful Mauritania and its 6 stages.
Monday January 5th 2015
STAGE 6: DAKHLA / CHAMI
After a long morning liaison to the border between Morocco and Mauritania, crossing the « No Man’s Land » between the two countries, the vehicles will go to the selective section of the day. This stage will be fun training and will give the opportunity to the competitors to evaluate the first Mauritanian dunes! Perfect stage to learn from in Mauritania.
Tuesday January 6th 2015
STAGE 7: CHAMI / AZOUGUI
First big stage in Mauritania, where the competitors will find all kind of landscapes and navigation. After the mythical railway and Ben Amira, a first series of dunes will separate the competitors from the all new bivouac, north from ATAR.
NH 20121229 DSC 0457-2Wednesday January 7th 2015
STAGE 8: AZOUGUI / AZOUGUI
Completely new loop stage, giving the opportunity to assistance and organization to rest a bit. This stage will take the competitors to the magnificent sites of ADRAR, close to CHINGHETTI and OUADANE. Sand! More sand! That’s what the competitors will have to deal with. Without any doubt, this will be THE stage of the rally!
Thursday January 8th 2015
STAGE 9: AZOUGUI / AKJOUJT
This stage will be sandy and rocky all across the magnificent White Valley, and will take the competitors in a huge erg which they’ll have to cross completely off-road. A good portion of driving and navigating in the sand before getting back to the bivouac not far from the traditional Mauritanian village, AKJOUJT.
Friday January 9th 2015
STAGE 10: AKJOUJT / TOUEILA
The competitors will go back in a huge « sand pack » which could create big gaps in the early part of the day just before finding a hilly landscape with small dunes. The last portion of the day will be a last little, very narrow track crossing thick vegetation which seems to never end. A green ocean just before getting back to the bivouac.
Saturday January 10th 2015
STAGE 11: TOUEILA / SAINT LOUIS
For the last Mauritanian stage before Senegal, the competitors will have to deal with the nicest dunes ever crossed by José Maria SERVIA, the official AFRICA ECO RACE forerunner. Nearly 20 km of pure pleasure in the heart of the beautiful golden dunes with a lot of different ways to cross them.
Sunday January 11th 2015
STAGE 12: SAINT LOUIS / LAC ROSE – DAKAR
After one last and beautiful night under the Senegalese stars, it's with a soothed conscience that the Finishers of the 2015 AFRICA ECO RACE will take the start of the last selective section of about 20 km long which will have the taste of satisfaction and relief for a lot of the competitors. The podium, set right on the lakefront of Lac Rose will see all the heroes of this 7th edition receiving their trophies with a lot of emotions and happiness. Finally, at the end of the day, all of the rally caravan will have the possibility to meet once more for a “Goodbye” cocktail and barbecue right next to the swimming pool of KING FAHD PALACE.
