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 | Africa Eco Race 2013: The route of the race 2013 - and some new starters.
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At the time of the last press conference for the [ SONANGOL AFRICA ECO RACE ] at Saint Cyprien on the 9th November, René Metge, who had just returned from Africa, presented a preliminary sketch of the 2013 journey.
After some necessary adjustments in order to coordinate access to the camps for the rally, remembering that they are in the middle of nowhere, the route was finally validated in it's entirety. So here is the route for the journey on the Sonangol Africa Eco Race 2013.
The itinerary is divided up into 11 Stages punctuated by a rest day at Dakhla, on the Atlantic coast. Altogether, there are 5,796 km of which 3,342 km are Special Stages and 1,762 km take place in Morocco where the tracks will be less wearing than usual and a further 1,580 km in Mauritania where big open spaces and sand will make up the majority of the trip.
Thursday 27th December 2012
Administrative and technical verifications Saint Cyprien (France)
Friday 28th December 2012
Transfer to Almeria (Spain)
Saturday 29th December 2012
Stage N° 1 NADOR / BOUDNIB: 658 km
Liaison: NADOR / AIN BENIMATHAR: 223 km
Special: AIN BENIMATHAR / BOUARFA: 245 km
Liaison: BOUARFA / BOUDNIB: 190 km
Sunday 30th December 2012
Stage N° 2 BOUDNIB / TAGOUNITE: 432 km
Special: BOUDNIB / TAGOUNITE: 409 km
Liaison: TAGOUNITE / TAGOUNITE: 22 km
Monday 31st December 2012
Stage N° 3 TAGOUNITE / OUED DRAA: 525 km
Special: TAGOUNITE / ICHT: 433 km
Liaison: ICHT / OUED DRAA: 92 km
Tuesday 1st January 2013
Stage N° 4 OUED DRAA / GWIRAT LARJAM: 451 km
Special: OUED DRAA / AS SKAN: 343 km
Liaison: AS SKAN / GWIRAT LARJAM: 108 km
Wednesday 2nd January 2013
Stage N° 5: OUED HAMRA / DAKHLA: 689 km
TRANSFER: 5 km
Special: OUED HAMRA / BOUJDOUR: 331 km
Liaison: BOUJDOUR / DAKHLA: 352 km
Thursday 3rd January 2013
Rest Day in Dhakla
Friday 4th January 2013
Stage N° 6 DAKHLA / CHAMI: 574 km
Liaison: DAKHLA / PK 55: 372 km
Special: PK 55 / CHAMI: 161 km
Liaison: CHAMI / CHAMI: 41 km
Saturday 5th January 2013
Stage N° 7: CHAMI / AKJOUJT: 646 km
TRANSFER: 1 km
Special: CHAMI / AZOUGUI: 437 km
Liaison: AZOUGUI / AKJOUJT: 209 km
Sunday 6th January 2013
Stage N° 8: AKJOUJT/ AKJOUJT: 477 km
Liaison: AKJOUJT / TOURFINE EL KHADRA: 157 km
Special: TOURFINE EL KHADRA / AKJOUJT: 320 km
Monday 7th January 2013
Stage N° 9: AKJOUJT / TENADI: 459 km
Special: AKJOUJT / AOULEIGAT: 441 km
Liaison: AOULEIGAT / TENADI: 18 km
Tuesday 8th January 2013
Stage N° 10: TENADI / KOBA: 648 km
Special: TENADI / HASSEI EL BAGRA: 196 km
Liaison: HASSEI EL BAGRA / KOBA: 452 km
Wednesday 9th January 2013
Stage N° 11: KOBA / DAKAR: 236 km
Liaison: KOBA / KAYAR: 171 km
Special: KAYAR / LAC ROSE: 24 km
Transfer: LAC ROSE / DAKAR: 41 km
After the last visit to his doctor, Norbert Dubois confirmed his participation. Good news for the Parisian rider who, after finishing in second place twice at the last two editions, is counting on his third participation to add the Africa Eco Race title to his list of awards.
It's nevertheless a difficult challenge since, besides Stefano Turchi, Norbert will also have to fight it out against a talented Italian motorcyclist in the form of Paolo ceci, winner of the "Pharaons Rally" in the 450 cc class and World Vice Champion in the same class in 2009. Without a doubt, the bike category promises to be exciting stuff.
It's the winner of the first four editions, John Louis Schlesser, who will again be assisted by Cyril Esquirol Enduro World Champion, who's the big favorite on four wheels. But this legend of the discipline could see his domination run broken as the competition hots up against more and more competitive buggies and many performant 4x4's.
On one side, there's the Toyota Hilux Pickup of Belgians Jacky Loomans and on the other, Jost Van Cauwenberghe as well as Frenchman Jérôme Pelichet, who showed touches of brilliance during the 2011 edition of the Rally.
There's also a real danger from the Czechs Zdenek Porizek and also Miroslav Zapletal who is the revelation of the 2012 season having won the last race of the World Cup. They are two of the three best racers from the FIA All Terrain World Cup Rally who are taking part in the Africa Eco Race 2013 this year.
However, the two prototype Hummer H3's will not be the only attraction coming from the Czech Republic since Dusan Randysek, engaged in Solo on a SSV Arctic Cat, could well spice things up in the T3 category reserved for these "small" machines.
The "Independent" newspaper announced in it's 29th November edition that the Sonangol Africa Eco Race will count amongst it's participants a car crew that comes 100% from Saint Cyprien.
In fact, Guillaume Jorda and Xavier Lormand respectively a restaurant owner and a hotel owner in Saint Cyprien, will replace the racer and manager of the RMA team, Jean Paul Reparat. He suffered a set back because of an operation on his kidneys.
The partners worked hard in 2011 for the organisation of the departure of the Rally within the association St Cyp Lovely Place. This year, they will be on the other side of the barrier alongside Hubert Auriol, also flying the flag for RMA buggies. A last-minute adventure sponsored by partners of the local French department.
2012/12/04 | 18:07 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/AER
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