2013 X-Raid Dakar Rally

Gazelles: And It’s a Wrap!

Last Leg! Early Thursday morning competitors left the start line one last time for the final Leg of the rally. While the distances were shorter, the landscape was more variable, alternating between wide plains and steep valleys. In the distance the “Grand M’daouer” cliffs created one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world.   [...]

2014 Rallye Aicha des Gazelles Rankings

Winners of the 24th edition of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc 4WD Class 1st – Team 161 (Jeanette James and Anne-Marie Borg – VOLKSWAGEN VEHICULES UTILITAIRES) – France/UK - 59.24 penalty points. 2nd – Team 160 (Elisabete Jacinto and Valérie Dot – VOLKSWAGEN VEHICULES UTILITAIRES) – France/Portugal - 65.10 points 3rd – Team 118 (Catherine Houlès and Mélanie Suchet [...]

Gazelles: Another long Marathon leg – Day 2

At 6 a.m., the first teams check off CP6 before heading in the direction of the remaining 8 checkpoints along today’s route, always with the goal of driving the shortest distance possible. They have two options for reaching CP7: drive a straight line across a chaotic zone of sand and rocks, or go down into Oued Draa and zig-zag along the dried river [...]

LEG 4 – First marathon: charged with emotion

Day 1 There is never a dull moment at the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles. The much-anticipated (or dreaded!) leg in the dunes was followed by the first of two marathon legs: two days of complete autonomy in the desert with no bivouac and no nighttime mechanical assistance. Relieved at having survived the dunes, the novices were now wondering what to expect, alone [...]