Dakar Rally 2027 will take place in Portugal and Morocco

The 2027 Dakar Rally will take place in Portugal and Morocco from January 9 to 23, following the cancellation of the event in Saudi Arabia due to geopolitical tensions. The Amaury Sport Organisation announced the change, citing increased attacks from Houthi fighters. The rally will start in Loulé-Faro and finish in Marrakech, covering 7,824 kilometers, with 4,341 kilometers timed. The event marks a return to Portugal after 20 years and will feature 350 participants, opening the FIA and FIM rally raid championships. The last Lisbon-Dakar was canceled in 2008 due to security threats, leading to a shift to South America until 2019 and then to Saudi Arabia in 2020.