III African Desert Maroc 26
Provisional 05/03/26
The III Raid African Desert Maroc 26 is not a speed race. It is a tourist, adventure and navigation raid with 4x4 vehicles that will take place in Morocco. An approximate route of 1,800 km across Moroccan tracks and roads over 6 exciting stages. Driving skill, teamwork, solidarity with fellow competitors and daily strategy will be key to reaching the finish line every day.
Desert Adventure in collaboration with other entities organises the III Raid African Desert Maroc 26, to be held in Morocco from 24 to 31 October 2026.
| Sat 24 Oct | Gathering at Port of Algeciras · Boarding 08:00h Algeciras–Tanger Med · Administrative and technical scrutineering 17:00h · Event and first stage briefings |
| Sun 25 – Fri 30 | 6 stages covering ~1,800 km across Morocco |
| Fri 30 | End of event · Farewell party and trophy ceremony |
| Sat 31 / Sun 1 Nov | Return journey (open ferry ticket: Tanger Med – Algeciras) |
For the organisation's and event sponsor's advertising, all teams must reserve the following spaces on their vehicles:
2/3 of the right and left door, and 2/3 of the rear side windows.
It is mandatory to hire, for the duration of the event, a satellite tracker (STELLA III EVO) with two-way communication for team safety. This device must be powered by a direct cable (+ and –) from the battery, which must be pre-installed in the competing vehicle. It is forbidden to connect or disconnect the STELLA device after scrutineering on day one.
Family members, friends and fans will be able to follow each participant's route during stages in real time via an interactive map.
Moroccan phone number mandatory. At least one team member must have a mobile phone connected throughout all stages using their Moroccan number. This number will be recorded by the organisation at administrative scrutineering.
The roads and tracks of the route are open to traffic. Participants must comply with the traffic code of the countries in which the event takes place.
Seatbelts are mandatory throughout the entire event.
The maximum sporting speed will be between 80 and 90 km/h for the entire Raid, depending on category.
Exceeding 120 km/h during a stage results in expulsion from the event.
Stage briefings. Held daily before departures. Any information given at briefings takes precedence over the Participant's Book or Notice Board. Attendance is MANDATORY.
Typical stage structure: Hotel track → Start (TRACK TO START) · Stage track (STAGE TRACK) · Finish track → Hotel (TRACK TO HOTEL). Road Book stages will not have a stage track.
Starts and finishes: Each team will have a designated start and finish time. To score, it is mandatory to pass through the start control (flags/arch) and the finish control. Without these controls the stage does not score.
Maximum stage time: Time varies by category and distance. Once the maximum time is exceeded without arriving, the finish is closed and teams do not score that stage.
Check Points (CP): Verify that participants follow the correct itinerary. They may be secret.
Navigation devices: Use of any electronic device is permitted. Tracks will be provided at least one day in advance. Road books/WPs are handed out before the start.
Mandatory track recording: GPX format · WGS 84 datum · Lat/Long coordinates dd°mm'ss'' · Track point: one every 5 seconds. The organisation may request it at the end of the stage (deadline: 10 min).
a. Track Following: Follow the track route, trying not to deviate more than X metres to each side. Start, stage and return-to-hotel tracks will be provided.
b. Blind Track: A series of waypoints (WP) forming the stage track are provided. Linking them in ascending order leads to the finish. Each WP carries a score.
c. Road Book: A road book with directions to complete the stage is provided. No GPS track.
d. WP Shortest Distance: Locate a series of WPs covering the fewest km possible. The penalty for a missed WP will be specified in the briefing.
Scoring: All stages have the same base score: penalties are deducted and time bonuses added.
Each team consists of a vehicle with at least a driver and co-driver. A single participant per vehicle will only be admitted with prior authorisation from the organisation, and must always travel accompanied by another participating team.
Requirements to participate:
Registrations must be completed on the official event document. Participants are responsible for the accuracy of their data.
Each team must have a specific name of a maximum of 20 characters.
The organisation reserves the right to accept or refuse registration applications and is not obliged to justify its decision.
Replacement of any team member or registered vehicle from scrutineering onwards is expressly prohibited and penalised with team disqualification.
Only for health reasons or force majeure, with authorisation from the organisation, may a replacement be permitted. Vehicle changes will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
When cancellation occurs before 30 September 2026, the full registration fee is refunded.
After that date, no refund of any kind will be due, regardless of the reason for cancellation.
Participants will allocate part of their vehicles for the Organisation's advertising. If refused, the registration fee will be increased by €1,000 per team.
Teams may not display on their vehicle, clothing or technical materials any advertising in direct competition with the organiser or any event sponsor.
It is mandatory to wear the identification wristband provided by the organisation throughout the event.
a. Administrative scrutineering — Held the day before the first stage. Required documentation: signed entry form, passport/ID copy, repatriation insurance, vehicle insurance, Moroccan phone, proof of payment, STELLA deposit payment and ORG GPS.
b. Technical scrutineering — Checks: mandatory advertising, Moroccan phone function, STELLA and GPS.
Highly recommended equipment: Air compressor · Duct tape · Radiator stop-leak · Vulcanising tape · Sleeping bags · Ratchet straps · Fuses
ADVENTURE — Recommended for teams with little or no experience in this type of event or travelling to Morocco for the first time:
4x4 Vehicles
Off-Road Vehicles and SUVs
RAID — Recommended for participants with experience in this type of event who can prove participation in at least one African event:
Raid Sub-categories
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the event is strictly prohibited. Any such behaviour will result in immediate exclusion from the event.
The day before each stage, or just before departure, a briefing will be held to explain, prepare and clarify the next day's stage. Briefing specifications are valid over the regulations, even if they conflict with them.
There will be an official notice board where classifications, departure times, stage durations, etc. will be published. The event WhatsApp group will serve as the Official Notice Board: any information sent through it is considered communicated to and known by all participants.
Daily classifications will be posted on the official event board. Classifications are established by registration category.
The SCRATCH will be unique per participation type: there will be two SCRATCH prizes (one for Adventure and one for Raid).
Only complaints that are written and signed by the team representative and delivered within a maximum of 15 minutes after the provisional stage classification is published will be considered.
They must always be submitted to the Chief Sporting Steward. If the complaint is dismissed, the team will incur a penalty of €50 (to be donated to the trophy party).
All complaints will be resolved before the departure of the following day's stage.
The Sporting Committee will be made up of the Race Director, the Organisation Director and two participants chosen by draw on the day of administrative scrutineering.
It will rule on complaints by simple majority. Its decisions are final and not subject to appeal. In the event of a tie, the Race Director has the casting vote.
Unsporting attitudes, disloyal behaviour, contempt or derogatory comments towards other participants, organisation members or locals may result in disqualification or penalty depending on severity, at the discretion of the Sporting Committee.
Failure to help or assist another participant results in AUTOMATIC EXPULSION from the event.
When the ORG is notified of a breakdown or getting stuck, the assistance device is activated. An attempt will be made to resolve the incident with the available mechanical team.
If the incident cannot be resolved but the car can still drive, the ORG may tow the vehicle to the nearest paved road so the participant can arrange transfer through their insurance.
If the vehicle cannot move under its own power, the occupants will be taken to the nearest town.
Important: if assistance is requested, the incident is resolved and the ORG is not notified, that stage will not score and a penalty of 2,000 points will be applied.
Prizes are not cumulative: each participant can only receive one prize.
Prizes are awarded to the first-placed in each category.
A Special Prize is awarded to the overall winner of the event in both Adventure and Raid.
DOES NOT INCLUDE anything not clearly specified in this document.
Exact penalty values will be defined before the event start.
| Infraction Type | 1st time | 2nd time |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL | ||
| Failure to attend Briefing | — | — |
| Loss of identification wristband | — | — |
| Dismissed complaint filed | — | — |
| Tampering with ORG GPS or track to be submitted | — | — |
| Failure to submit stage track when requested | — | — |
| Replacement of team member without authorisation | — | — |
| Detection of alcohol or drugs | — | — |
| Missing mandatory stickers | — | — |
| Failure to assist a fellow competitor | — | — |
| STARTS | ||
| Late arrival at start | — | — |
| Arriving after start control closure | — | — |
| Start control closure | — | — |
| STAGE DEVELOPMENT | ||
| Not wearing seatbelt, lights or helmet | — | — |
| Omitting Road Book prohibitions | — | — |
| Not reporting getting unstuck after requesting help | — | — |
| Not reporting breakdown resolution after requesting help | — | — |
| Failure to report stage abandonment | — | — |
| Rescue after requesting help | — | — |
| CHECK POINT | ||
| Missing a CP | — | — |
| Delay at CP | — | — |
| CP closure | — | — |
| TRACK FOLLOWING & SPEEDS | ||
| Deviating more than 50 m from track | — | — |
| Exceeding 80 km/h limit on track | — | — |
| Exceeding 50 km/h limit in cities | — | — |
| Exceeding 30 km/h limit in towns/villages/palm groves | — | — |
| Exceeding speed limits by more than 50% | — | — |
| Missing track trace | — | — |
| FINISHES | ||
| Late arrival time | — | — |
| Arriving with finish control closed | — | — |
24–31 octubre 2026 · Marruecos · Máx. 30 equipos