Major changes at the Dakar Rally. Organizers have provided details

The Dakar Rally will take place in the Algarve region and Morocco, featuring 11 special stages and a rest day in Agadir. The 49th edition is rescheduled for January 9-23, pending FIA approval, covering 7824 km, including 4341 km of special stages from Portugal to Morocco. Organizers stated the decision to move the event from Saudi Arabia was exceptional, with the 50th edition returning to Saudi Arabia in 2028. This marks the rally's return to Africa for the first time since 2008, having originally started in 1978 as a race from Paris to Dakar, Senegal.