The final competitive stage of the Africa Eco Race 2026 marked the transition toward the conclusion of an exceptional adventure. Covering 475 kilometers, including 103 kilometers of timed special stage, this day of transition between Mauritania and Senegal offered a striking contrast.
Gradually, the vast dune fields gave way to savannah landscapes. The light, the vegetation, even the atmosphere of the rally changed kilometer after kilometer. In the Senegalese special stage, rich in emotion, competitors were greeted by large numbers of spectators gathered near villages, applauding the passing caravan and reminding everyone that the Africa Eco Race is also a deeply human adventure.
On the eve of the final stage, the 2026 Africa Eco Race once again delivered on its promises. Held around Ouad Naga, this tenth stage, more compact but extremely varied, tested the riders’ endurance and reshuffled several classifications. Dunes from the very start, alternating rolling tracks and sandy sections, demanding obstacles, followed by a faster but still physically demanding second part: a full day where focus and precision made all the difference.
For this ninth stage, the Africa Eco Race left Aïdzidine to reach Ouad Naga over a 490-kilometre route, including 426 kilometres of timed special. A stage with a set pace, where pure speed was not enough: everything was decided by consistency and the ability to establish the right rhythm and maintain it until the finish.
The Africa Eco Race reached a major milestone today with Stage 7 from Chami to Aït Aidzidine. An extraordinary stage of 462 kilometers, run entirely as a timed special with no liaison, making it the longest special of this 17th edition. A demanding day, entirely focused on navigation, through typically Mauritanian landscapes of sand, camel grass, and vast off-track areas, interspersed with particularly tricky sections.
La troisième étape de l’Africa Eco Race s’est disputée aujourd’hui entre Tagounit et Assa, sur un parcours total de 514 kilomètres, dont une spéciale chronométrée de 440 kilomètres. Une longue étape éprouvante, alternant pistes rapides et cassantes, dunes de l’erg Chegaga et secteurs très empierrés en fin de parcours.
The second stage of the Africa Eco Race took place today between Boussaïd and Tagounit, covering a total distance of 425 kilometers. Although this is the second stage of the rally, today marked the first timed special of this edition, as the stage initially planned yesterday was canceled due to winter conditions and snow.
The entry list for the 2026 Africa Eco Race is now online! 🔥 Discover the registered competitors: drivers, teams, vehicles, and categories. This 17th edition promises to be legendary.
For this 17th edition, the Africa Eco Race is proud to announce an exceptional partnership: Baltic, an independent French watchmaking brand, becomes the rally’s Official Timekeeper.
For us as service-team, the AER feels like going on a road-trip with the whole family ! Together we follow the ancient African trails. Together with the complete organization of the AER we give it all to bring our teams to the legendary Lac Rose !
Being true fans of the AER we enjoy the whole concept as you find in no other race, as one of our SSV pilots reminded me, there is only one real race to Dakar !
Wil THEUWS - Team Manager QFF Racing
This event created by Jean Louis SCHLESSER and René METGE is a precise cocktail where the pleasure of racing bonds with the beauty of the landscapes and the nice atmosphere between everyone on the bivouacs
Franck ALLARD - AMV assurances
Africa is an happy continent with smiling people, with freedom for racing, thanks a lot to orga work to preserve classic African event based on values from first Dakars... Good luck AER!
Tomas Tomecek - Winner Truck AER 2022
It is always a pleasure for the population of Menton to witness the arrival of all these vehicles: trucks, cars, buggies, motorbikes… It is also all about the human and convivial aspect of this race which races through the city of Menton.
Fabrice PINET - Ville de Menton
The enthusiam and passion of the team as well as their constant research of bringing eco-responsable actions to their event, make the AFRICA ECO RACE one of the unmissable events of the Principality and we are proud to welcome them every year. We encourage everybody to buy a maximum of solar lamps provided by AMADE and AFRICA ECO RACE. More than a daily use, they will enable senegalese and mauritanian children to walk safely home after dark and will contribute to reducing the racing vehicules' carbon footprint.
Kate & Didier - STARS'N'BARS
You dream of dunes and beautiful landscapes, follow us to the Lac Rose !
René METGE
Solidarity and unity, the AFRICA ECO RACE is a rally at the origin of our values and this must remains...
Abdou THIAM - Président de la FSAM
Competition and sharing define the spirit of the Africa Eco Race
Xavier Flick - Winner Motul Extreme Rider 2022
AFRICA ECO RACE is also mutual help and friendship between the competitors
Jean Louis SCHLESSER
The AFRICA ECO RACE is a true human organisation, you really fell that you're a part of a global project with an open and very initimate feeling. So you sleep with very simple thoughts while you reach your goal: Dakar
