8 Stages of the MDC 2023

Morocco Desert Challenge literally is what it promises to be: a real challenge in the Moroccan desert. Following the success the recent editions we have once again chosen to travel from coast to coast: from the virgin beaches of Plage Blanche at the Atlantic to the Mediterranean shores. The route will nevertheless be completely different: new road books, new bivouacs and 8 new stages.

0 kilometre liaison

Not only is Morocco Desert Challenge an adventure full of surprises, with technical parts, fast African plains, many dunes, salt lakes and legendary Paris-Dakar stages, it also offers something really unique: 0 kilometre of liaison from the start of the first special till the finish of the last one. That’s right: no liaison, only pure rally experience.

Stage 0 | Thursday 20th & Friday 21st April

Agadir

Technical and administrative checks

On Thursday 20th and Friday 21st of April 2023 the Morocco Desert Challenge kicks off with scrutineering in Agadir, one of Morocco’s friendly seaside resorts with an international airport. Bivouac 0 is at Place Al Amal, Agadir’s largest public square. The rally hotels, where everybody is accommodated, are located along the square.

Stage 1 | Saturday 22nd April

Plage Blanche – Plage Blanche (prologue)

Distance Special 1 = 184 km

The real start of the rally is at the legendary Plage Blanche, 250 km south of Agadir. We’ll kick off with a perfect introduction-mix of WRC-specials, gravel and sand, followed by a winding track on the cliffs with a view on the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll finish the stage with 25km flat-out racing over a virgin beach at low tide. A magnificent prologue of nearly 200km to test the machines and to determine the starting positions for the next day.

Stage 2 | Sunday 23rd April

Plage Blanche - Zag

Distance Special 2 = 556 km

Distance Special 2 Trucks = 563 km
​​​​​​​Liaison = 0 km

A monster stage! At 7AM the engines roar again on the beach and we’ll start in the opposite direction of the day before. This second, long and hard special brings us in south to the Moroccan (Western) Sahara via spectacular, sandy river beds (oueds), stony tracks, dry salt lakes and winding tracks through the hills. Fast and technical parts alternate on a terrain of 80% sand & gravel and 20% stones. A long stage through a breath-taking landscape.

Stage 3 | Monday 24th April

Zag - Tissint

Distance Special 3 = 448 km
​​​​​​​Liaison = 0 km

New tracks in stage 3 as well. Both technical & sandy and hard & fast. Sometimes you imagine yourself to be in black Africa. Valleys full of trees and animals as if you are on the African Savannah. Besides that, there are several oueds, winding paths and dried up salt lakes. The 2nd part of the day is a variation on the traditional “Dakar piste”. You drive across the largest military zone of south-Morocco. A beautiful but desolate landscape with 0 inhabitants. The perfect playground for a big cross-country rally.

Stage 4 | Tuesday 25th April

Tissint - M'hamid

Distance Special 4 = 219 km

Distance Special 4 Trucks = 245 km
​​​​​​​Liaison = 0 km

Dunes! There’s plenty in the MDC2023 and they start today. After a race across Lake Iriki we’ll first cross the dunes of Chegaga and via sandy, winding paths and oueds, we’ll reach the desert bivouac of M’hamid. Here we’ll sleep 2 nights, offering a bit of comfort to your mechanics.

Stage 5 | Wednesday 26th April

M'hamid - M'hamid

Distance Special 5 = 260 km

Distance Special 5 Trucks = 340 km
​​​​​​​Liaison = 0 km

Sand, sand and even more sand. The customer satisfaction survey after the MDC2019 showed us the wish for more dunes. Well, today you’ll get plenty! All dune area’s in the M’hamid area will be crossed, beautifully connected by sandy tracks.

Stage 6 | Thursday 27th April

M'hamid - Merzouga

Distance Special 6 = 374 km

Distance Special 6 = ​​​​​​​362 km

​​​​​​​Liaison = 0 km

Part 1 of the marathon stage! Another classic desert stage with a little bit of everything, expertly composed by our race director: sand plains, canyons, the dunes of Ouzina and more lingering tracks through sandy oueds. More dunes await us in Erg Znaigui followed by a first short crossing of the Erg Chebbi to round off the day. A guaranteed show piece. At the end of the stage the participants go straight to the Parc Fermé in front of our catering tent in Merzouga.

Stage 7 | Friday 28th April

Merzouga – Borj Bel-Frissate

Distance Special 7 = 420 km
​​​​​​​Liaison = 0 km

Part 2 of the marathon stage! A final day in the dunes, but definitely one for the brave: we’ll start with the north-south crossing of Morocco’s highest dunes, Erg Chebbi. From here onwards, we change our cap and via a mix of sandy oueds, fast & technical tracks we start heading north. On the menu the fast tracks of Hamada. With technical parts in the morning, and navigation and lots of drifting in the afternoon.

Stage 8 | Saturday 29th April

Borj Bel-Frissate – Ain Ben Mathar

Distance Special 8 = 215 km

The final stage is traditionally a bit shorter, but not to be underestimated as often the sting is in the tail. A jumble of hard to find WRC tracks through fields & pampas demand utter concentration and perfect navigation. Focus is fundamentally because it goes fast, very fast. In Ain Ben Mathar, champagne is waiting for you!

On Saturday 29th April the finish & award ceremony will take place in a five star hotel in Saïdia, at the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The port of Nador and the international airports of Oujda & Nador are just around the corner. They day after the rally, you can be home.