The exhilarating journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert, spanning from Agadir to Zagora, sets the stage for the 2026 Rally of Morocco. This event, commencing on Tuesday, September 29, serves as the penultimate round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), with numerous championship positions still up for grabs. In the car category, the competition between Sébastien Loeb and Nasser Al-Attiyah is razor-thin, with only a three-point difference separating the two seasoned drivers. In the motorcycle division, Daniel Sanders and Spanish rider Tosha Schareina find themselves in a similarly tight race, just three points apart as well. This intense competition is further amplified by a lineup of drivers reminiscent of the Dakar Rally, underscoring the significance of this event as both a championship decider and a vital preparatory trial ahead of the Dakar 2027.
Running from **Monday, September 28, to Saturday, October 3, 2026**, the Rally of Morocco will feature a prologue around Agadir for the FIM categories and a shakedown for the FIA cars on the opening day. However, the official race kicks off on **Tuesday, September 29**, when participants will leave Agadir and embark on the long trek to Zagora, where they will remain for the duration of the rally. The bivouac will be established near Zagora, and the following four stages will consist of loops that start and finish in the same area, showcasing the stunning desert terrain until the final goal is reached on **Saturday, October 3**. The official timings for the event are set in **UTC+0**, which means that participants and fans in Spain will need to add two hours to the local time to adjust accordingly.
Rally Schedule and Stages
The rally promises a dynamic course that will see the participants transition significantly after just one day. The first stage is particularly noteworthy as it marks a major transition away from Agadir and the Atlantic coast towards Zagora, covering a total distance of **636 kilometers**, with **268 kilometers** being competitive. Following this, Zagora will become the center of action, with four stages introducing teams to the challenging desert terrain, which includes sand, fast tracks, rocky paths, and dunes. The chosen location provides access to some of the largest dune fields in Morocco, making the latter half of the rally an essential test for teams preparing for the Dakar.
As for the specifics of the stages, they are as follows:
| Stage | Date | Route | Total Km | Competitive Km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Tuesday, September 29 | Agadir-Zagora | 636 km | 268 km |
| Stage 2 | Wednesday, September 30 | Zagora-Zagora | 423 km | 300 km |
| Stage 3 | Thursday, October 1 | Zagora-Zagora | 592 km | 364 km |
| Stage 4 (FIA) | Friday, October 2 | Zagora-Zagora | 516 km | 384 km |
| Stage 4 (FIM) | Friday, October 2 | Zagora-Zagora | 453 km | 321 km |
| Stage 5 | Saturday, October 3 | Zagora-Zagora | 357 km | 259 km |
Notably, **Stage 4** will feature different routes for cars and motorcycles, with FIA participants tackling 516 kilometers (384 competitive) and FIM riders covering 453 kilometers (321 competitive). Overall, FIA cars will face approximately **1,575 kilometers of competition** throughout the five stages.
Watching the Rally of Morocco 2026
Unlike a typical Formula 1 or MotoGP event, the Rally of Morocco does not offer continuous live television coverage for every kilometer of the race. Fans can primarily follow the event through the official W2RC and Rallye du Maroc channels, which provide real-time timing updates, live information, standings, videos, and daily summaries. The official Rallye du Maroc website also links to live tracking of the W2RC, ensuring that fans can stay updated with the latest developments. Moreover, Motorsport.com España will be on-site in Morocco, delivering comprehensive coverage of the event, including news, results, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content from the bivouac.
As reported by es.motorsport.com.
