This weekend marks the start of the 24th edition of the Maroc Challenge in Er-Rachidia, the gateway to the Moroccan desert. Administrative and technical scrutineering will take place on Saturday, while on Sunday the event will officially start with a historic record of entries.

With 198 registered teams—the highest number in its history—the rally will feature six demanding stages, ending on Friday, 5 December at the foot of the Erg Chebbi.

With nearly 200 teams, the event stands out for its increasingly international profile, consolidating itself as one of the leading amateur rallies held in Morocco. The 198 participants from fifteen different countries highlight the appeal of this great adventure, which continues to expand its horizons with every edition.

This year the desert will take centre stage, with 100% off-road stages and very few road liaisons. The route has been renewed, combining new sections with iconic Maroc Challenge landmarks. From the first day to the last, sand and dunes will be the protagonists. It will be one of the most adventurous and demanding editions in the event’s history. As always, difficulty levels will be adapted to each category, and four new ones have been added (C2 RAID, CX2 PRO RAID, CX4 PRO RAID and PRO RAID TT) to support participant progression.

Winter 2025 will begin with a stage between Er-Rachidia and M’Hamid, followed by a second stage that will end in Zagora. The traditional bivouac night, held after the third stage, will take place in Sidi Ali, near Lake Maider and the village of Tafraoute. Erfoud will host the finish of the fourth day and will also be the centre of the loop designed for stage five. The Maroc Challenge will conclude after a sixth waypoint-navigation stage next to the legendary Erg Chebbi.

The regulations also include important updates. Deviating more than 100 metres from the track will now incur a penalty of 25 points per minute (previously 250 metres were allowed). Articles 14 and 15 have been partially amended: in the event of a tie between two teams, the one who completes the stage with the shortest distance—within the permitted navigation area—will rank ahead. This rule will also apply to ties in the final classification.

Another significant change concerns the maximum allowed speed on tracks for certain categories with additional safety requirements. According to Article 11.5, the general track speed limit is 80 km/h, but for SSV, CX2 Pro Raid, CX4 Pro Raid and Pro Raid TT categories it will be set at 90 km/h.

Lastly, all details related to the event can be found on our website.