The 15th edition of the Africa Eco Race, the major Rally-Raid event running the original Dakar race routes across north Africa, has been canned from its March 2023 dates and moved forward to the traditional new year calendar start running into January 2024.

Scheduled for March 11-26, the 2023 Africa Eco Race has been cancelled with the organisers citing weather and financial conditions in their decision. “After several editions impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic, we did everything possible to go on the adventure again in March 2023.” The organiser’s statement reads.

“In consultation with the Senegalese Federation of Motor Sports and Motorcycling, we have regretfully taken the decision to postpone the 15th edition of the Africa Eco Race.” It continues, “like other sporting events, the current climatic upheavals are forcing us to rethink and adapt our human activities….The mythical Lac Rose in Dakar, the finish line of our race, is in the grip of major flooding, with water levels rising by almost three meters on its banks. Mauritania and its wild landscapes, awaited by all on our event, is one of the most fragile territories due to the extreme events that occur there, such as the sandstorms or the extreme heat that we experienced during our 14th edition, in October 2022.”

Based on all these factors they have decided to postpone the 2023 race despite it being just seven weeks away at time of writing. Having already shifted the dates for the 2023 event, the 15th edition will return to its usual dates to start on December 30, 2023 to finish on the shores of the Lac Rose on January 14, 2024.

More information: www.africarace.com