THE LARGEST CROSS-BORDER RALLY-RAID IN THE AFRICAN DESERT
With just a few months to go before the big start, the Africa Eco Race organizers are stepping up a gear. As registrations pour in, field preparations are intensifying on the original birthplace of rally-raid to offer competitors an exceptional human and sporting adventure across Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal, all the way to the legendary shores of Lac Rose.
Official launch of the recce: following in the footsteps of René Metge
The final route reconnaissances kicked off this week. Jean-Louis Schlesser, Director and co-founder of the Africa Eco Race, and Manfred Kroiss, Sports Director, are hard at work fine-tuning the final details of the course and drafting the definitive road book.
This 2027 edition will feature numerous new additions and unprecedented special stages created in memory of René Metge, who served as Sports Director for the Africa Eco Race. The route will traverse geographic regions particularly dear to the 'Cowboy of Malakoff' and will make a stop in Tabrankout, Mauritania, his favorite bivouac. In total, competitors will take on 4,000 km of special stages in the main race. Meanwhile, the Historic category will benefit from a dedicated 3,000 km special stage route—a 30% increase compared to the previous edition.
Registrations are pouring in across all categories.
The event's success is confirmed across all categories, with entry quotas nearly reached:
Historic Race (vehicles from 1970 to 2007): Almost full, with over 40 vehicles—double the count of the 2025 edition.
Modern Race (Bike, Car, SSV, Quad, Truck): Quotas are almost completely filled.
Raid (Bike and Car): Nearing full capacity.
Registrations will officially close as soon as the set quotas are met. In the face of a historic surge in participants, the organizers have deliberately chosen to cap entries to preserve the original spirit of the event: a human-scale rally with controlled schedule windows to avoid nighttime navigation.
2027 New Feature: Two formats to experience the adventure in the Raid category
Serving as a gateway to the event—allowing participants to live the rally-raid dream outside the official classification and without the pressure of the clock—the Raid category (Bike & Car) introduces two tailored options this year, while sharing the same experience and unique atmosphere of the common bivouacs:
Raid Evolution: Takes on the exact route of the main race with the same road-book navigation requirements, but features slightly shorter stages.
Raid Travel: Alternates accessible off-road sections with road liaisons through spectacular landscapes.
Nearly 20 years of strengthened values and proven safety
For nearly two decades, the Africa Eco Race has carried on Thierry Sabine's legacy by putting personal challenge, solidarity, and mutual aid at the heart of its organization. On the original birthplace of rally-raid, the safety of participants and support caravans remains the top priority. It relies on work carried out in close collaboration and perfect synergy with local and governmental authorities in Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal.
