Africa Eco Race is an annual rally raid, organised in France and run in North and West Africa, launched after the cancellation of 2008 Dakar Rally, and the subsequent moving of the rally to South America.
The rally claims to have innovated to give a special focus on security issues and sustainable development. In addition to the sporting aspect, the rally aims to put emphasis on individual awareness about eco-responsibility.Journal L'Equipe du 9 mai 2008 Bivouacs are chosen far from cities and airport tarmac.Mototribu.com
History
The Africa Eco Race Rally, intended for amateurs and professionals, lasts for more than 6500 km over 11 stages. The race crosses the territories of Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania and Senegal.
Editions 2009 1st Edition The 1st edition of the so-called Africa Race sailed from Marseille on December 26, 2008. The technical and administrative checks occurred on 26 and 27 December, the prologue took place on December 28, followed by embarkation and arrival in Nador, Morocco on 30 December.
2010 2nd Edition The second edition of the Africa Eco Race started from Portimão, Portugal where administrative and technical verifications took place on 27 and 28 of December 2009, preceded by a shakedown, in which the contestants could show and test their vehicles.
2011 3rd Edition The third edition took place from 27 December 2010 to 9 January 2011. The start was at Châteaux de Lastours and the arrival, as usual, was in Dakar, Senegal. This edition was the third victory in three editions for Jean-Louis Schlesser in cars, Willy Jobard with a hybrid ZONGSHEN in bikes and Czech Tomáš Tomeček in a Tatra truck.
2012 4th Edition The fourth edition made its departure on December 27, 2011, in Saint-Cyprien and arrived in Dakar on January 8, 2012. A fourth victory was claimed by Jean-Louis Schlesser in a buggy built by himself. The motorcycles title was won by Oscar Polli with a KTM and the trucks category was won by Tomáš Tomeček who got a second place in the overall ranking.
2013 5th Edition The fifth edition made its departure on December 28, 2012, in Saint-Cyprien and arrived on the shores of Lac Rose in Dakar on January 9, 2013. A fifth victory was taken by Jean-Louis Schlesser in a buggy built by himself. The motorcycles title was won by Martin Fontyn and the trucks category was won by Anton Shibalov with his Kamaz truck who finished second overall, ahead of Tomáš Tomeček and his Tatra truck.
2014 6th Edition The sixth edition made its departure December 29, 2013 in Saint-Cyprien and arrived on the shores of Lac Rose in Dakar on January 11, 2014 . A sixth consecutive victory was achieved by Jean-Louis Schlesser in a buggy built by himself, co-driven by Thierry Magnaldi. The motorcycle title was won by Michael Pisano with a Honda 450cc and Tomáš Tomeček took the trucks title with a Tatra.
2015 7th Edition The first edition without Jean-Louis Schlesser and with the return of the Kamaz official team, including an Hybrid truck. Jean Antoine Sabatier won the cars category with his Bugga One, the former Rally Dakar driver Pål Anders Ullevålseter won the bikes category while Anton Shibalov led his conventional Kamaz to the victory.
2016 8th Edition Departure from Monaco. Kanat Shagirov won the cars category with his Toyota Hilux Overdrive, while Pål Anders Ullevålseter and Anton Shibalov dominated completely motorcycles and truck categories.
2017 9th Edition StageDateStartFinishTotal (km)Special (km)Technical Check26-27 December 2016 Menton Monaco - -Boat Boarding31 December 2016 Monaco Sète - -Boat Travel1 January Sète Nador - -12 January Nador Domaine Moulay610.4385.8923 January Domaine Moulay Tagounite393.1369.9434 January Tagounite Assa525.35433.0745 January Assa Remz El Quebir409.22409.2256 January Remz El Quebir Dakhla696.31456.67Rest Day7 January Dakhla - -68 January Dakhla Tiwilit744.42172.5479 January Tiwilit Tiwilit439.54414.27810 January Tiwilit Azougui453.69425.44911 January Azougui Akjoujt464.35390.9610 12 January Akjoujt Akjoujt482.31423.651113 January Akjoujt Saint-Louis546.53208.021214 January Saint-Louis Dakar291.9721.93Total6,057.223,811.6 Departure from Monaco. Russian Mini driver Vladimir Vasilyev won the cars' category, his fellow countryman Andrey Karginov captured the victory in the trucks' section, while 17-year-old Gev Sella from Israel claimed the bikes' title ahead of last year's winner Pål Anders Ullevålseter from Norway.
2018 10th Edition StageDateStartFinishTotal (km)Special (km)Technical Check29-30 December 2017 Menton Monaco - -Boat Boarding31 December 2017 Monaco Sète - -Boat Travel1 January Sète Nador - -12 January Nador Dar Kaoura6399223 January Dar Kaoura Agdal47944334 January Agdal Assa42140045 January Assa Fort Chacal50149956 January Fort Chacal Dakhla632436Rest Day7 January Dakhla - -68 January Dakhla Chami65021179 January Chami Chami508486810 January Chami Amodjar478439911 January Amodjar Amodjar4863410 12 January Amodjar Akjoujt4534081113 January Akjoujt Saint-Louis5582191214 January Saint-Louis Dakar2922Total6,0973,669 Departure from Monaco. French driver Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin won the car category for the first time as well, Paolo Ceci for Bike category and Gerard de Rooy, Darek Rodewald, Moi Torrellardona in truck category.
2019 11th Edition StageDateStartFinishTotal (km)Special (km)Technical Check28-29 December 2018 Menton Monaco - -Boat Boarding30 December 2018 Monaco Monaco - -Boat Travel31 December 2018 Monaco Nador - -11 January Nador La Momie648.6890.5728 January La Momie Agdal433.89431.2239 January Agdal Assa415400.71410 January Assa Fort Chacal494.57492.75511 January Fort Chacal Dakhla638.4419.37Rest Day12 January Dakhla - -613 January Dakhla Chami559.93383.36714 January Chami Chami500.99480.98815 January Chami Amodjar506.85445.12916 January Amodjar Amodjar482.82374.3710 17 January Amodjar Akjoujt519.86471.581118 January Akjoujt Saint-Louis556.2217.691213 January Saint-Louis Dakar299.7521.93Total6,056.944,229.65
2020 12th Edition StageDateStartFinishTotal (km)Special (km)Technical Check3-4 January Menton Monaco - -Boat Boarding5 January Monaco Monaco - -Boat Travel6 January Monaco Tangier - -17 January Tangier Tarda754.2423.1828 January Tarda Mhamid333.13329.4739 January Mhamid Assa516.31497.44410 January Assa Smara404.53385.39511 January Smara Dakhla686.1473.17Rest Day12 January Dakhla - -613 January Dakhla Chami559.93176.57714 January Chami Aidzidine477.95477.95815 January Aidzidine Tidjikja450.83429.01916 January Tidjikja Tidjikja469.11415.0710 17 January Tidjikja Idini600.59499.461118 January Idini Saint-Louis473.65187.161219 January Saint-Louis Dakar299.7521.93Total6,026.123,915.8
2021 13th Edition The race was cancelled due to health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 14th Edition StageDateStartFinishTotal (km)Special (km)Check In14 October Menton Monaco - -Technical Check15 October Monaco Monaco - -Boat Boarding16 October Monaco Sète - -Boat Travel17 October Sète Nador - -118 October Nador Bousaid605.1893.97219 October Bousaid Tagounite466.33447.95320 October Tagounite Assa526.34465.89421 October Assa Remz El Quebir455.42455.42522 October Remz El Quebir Dakhla691.77450.82Rest Day23 October Dakhla - -624 October Dakhla Chami634.68204.63725 October Chami Akjoujt514.66470.16826 October Akjoujt Akjoujt447.85423.80927 October Akjoujt Ouad Naga435.56411.7710 28 October Ouad Naga Ouad Naga478.18456.041129 October Ouad Naga Mpal456.18122.2165.481230 October Mpal Dakar271.0821.93Total5,983.234,090.07 A later start date in the year than normal due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. The event started in Monaco before travelling overseas to Nador, Morocco. The route took the participants through Morocco, Mauritania, and finally Senegal where the event finished in Dakar.
This was the first year for the "Raid" category which is a non-competitive class for motorcycles over 650cc.
2024 15th Edition
2025 16th Edition 2026 17th Edition
Environment and sustainable development Both the participants and the organization make a commitment to take care not to leave harmful traces of their passage through countries. A series of projects will aim to use renewable resources to a long-term contribution to the lives of people in remote areas of several countries that the race will cross. These actions are tangible and lasting.
The organization is leading the way, giving all participants reusable flatware kits for any event. Some organization vehicles are equipped with solar panels to use the energy stored during the day to carry out their missions.
The organization of the Africa Eco Race also created two projects for power generation using photovoltaic panels in Mauritania to power a school in Nouakchott and a library in Chinguetti.
For the environment, was created a category for experimental vehicles powered by renewable energy, designed to test at large scale and under extreme conditions, the reliability, power, strength and endurance of these vehicles. In 2011 Africa Eco Race funded the planting of 3000 eucalyptus in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
However, the race organisation has refused to create any dialogue with the Polisario over rally access to Western Sahara.
Vehicles, categories, and classification There are four ways of participating in the AER with the full race, the classic race, and the two non-race raid events for bikes and cars.
Race
Motorcycle category The categories for the motorcycles and quads follow the French Motorcycle Federation Sporting Codes and the Supplementary Regulations. They differ between the website and the full regulations.
As of the 2025 event, the categorisation changed its numbering scheme. 2025 OnwardsUp to 2024CategoryClassIdentifierDescription Category ClassIdentifier Description 1450ccUp to 450cc 2 Group 1 -450Up to 450cc2 +450ccOver 450ccGroup 2Q Quad3Multicylinder: +650 to 1000 cc4 +450 Over 450cc4Multicylinder: +1000 cc 5OP Open5Experimental 6650m Over 650cc and under 1000cc multicylinder6GCompetition Quad: Powered by the action of two wheels (2-wheel drive)1000m 1000cc and over multicylinderHCompetition Quad: Powered by the action of four wheels (4-wheel drive) 7EXP Experimental1Female 1 Female2Junior (under 25 years)2 Junior3Veteran (over 45 years)3Veteran4Malle Moto (Motul Xtreme Rider)4Malle Moto (Motul Xtreme Rider)5Rookie Rider (by Acerbis)5Rookie
SSV, Car, Truck categories The cars and trucks are organized in accordance with the FIA International Sporting Code and its Annexes, the FFSA Sporting Regulations and the current Supplementary Regulations. CarsTruck Category Class Description Category Class Description T1 T1.+Prototype Cross-Country Cars ThermicT5 T5.1 10L or over T1.UPrototype Cross-Country Cars "Ultimate" T5.2 Under 10L T1.1 4x4 Petrol Prototype Cross-Country CarsT1.2 4x4 Diesel Prototype Cross-Country CarsT1.3 4x2 Petrol Prototype Cross-Country CarsT1.4 4x2 Diesel Prototype Cross-Country CarsT1.5 Vehicles complying with SCORE regulations T2T2.1 Petrol Series Production Cross-Country CarsT2.2 Diesel Series Production Cross-Country CarsT3T3.1Lightweight Prototype Cross-Country VehiclesT3.ULightweight Prototype Cross-Country VehiclesT4Modified Production Cross-Country Side-by-Side VehiclesSSV XtremeSSV.1SSV with atmospheric engine: 825 kgSSV.2SSV without turbo engine and over 1000cc with engines up to 2 litres: minimum 1150 kg and outer diameter of tyres: 32 inches maximumSSV with turbo engine: 925 kgExperimentalEXPAlternative energy vehiclesOpenCross-Country vehicle with rigid axlesAER OpenCross-Country vehicle with an AER Passport
Classifications The categories are in accordance with the FFM Sporting Codes and the Supplementary Regulations and differ from the full regulations and FIM.