Competitor: Vehicle: €3,240 Crew member: €1,200 Raid: Vehicle + 2 people: €3,600
The Merzouga 1000 Classic is a classic rally-raid held in Morocco and dedicated to historic vehicles, following a timed speed format rather than a regularity rally. Inspired by the early years of the Paris–Dakar era, the event is run under the 4C Cross Country Chrono Classic regulations and emphasizes navigation, strategy, endurance, and teamwork. Competitors race against the clock on desert pistes and off-road tracks, reviving the fundamentals of classic rally-raid competition in a structured and professional framework. The route includes technical and administrative checks in Erfoud, followed by multiple stages linking Erfoud, Mhamid, Foum Zguid, Tafraout Sidi Ali, and Merzouga before returning to Erfoud for the finish. Vehicles are equipped with satellite tracking systems to ensure safety and real-time monitoring, as well as tripmasters and GPS units for navigation, while paper roadbooks are distributed daily at the bivouac. A Raid category is also available for participants seeking a less competitive pace while driving on the same tracks and benefiting from the full organization and atmosphere of the rally.
