“The cars take the famous track used in the Dakar"
With the special stage over, and free to rest and talk about the day’s adventures, everyone drives back to the Hotel Le Touareg, where the desert leaves them right by the door. From its terraces you can see the Great Dune in all of its splendor.
The classification is finally available. First place is taken by the Franco-spanish team composed of Romain Rollet and Alberto Martínez in their Santana.
On the way to the Oasis Mharech the participants are able to keep practising their navigation and enjoy some more stretches of sand while getting a deeper knowledge of their loved vehicles and their special off-road qualities. After driving through the pass that finally gives way to the oasis, the cars cross the KemKem Plateau to Tagounite, taking the famous track used in the Dakar. Tonight, the teams camp among the stars, in the middle of nowhere.
Day 2 starts with an orientation stage. By mid-morning, they reach the seas of sand surrounding the Erg Chegaga. The gates to the Iriki Valley, where the teams begin the last stretch of today’s journey, are close to the border with Algeria. The long Marathon stage is finally over when the teams reach the comfortable Bab Rimal in Foum Zghid.
Today sees the last leg of the trip, which will end in Marrakech. Like most days, part of the morning is spent resolving mechanical problems, as there are still many kilometres ahead. With no time constraints there’s no competition, and the participants take their time to explore. The vastness of the Moroccan plains and the Draa Valley to Ouarzazate is the last great rest for these tireless travellers. Tomorrow, the Santana Trophy family heads west towards Marrakech, crossing the Tizi n’ Tichka, the highest point in northern Africa at 2257 m, which composes the Kashbah Route.
It’s the end of the journey. Eager to reach the hotel in Marrakech, we take the quick way through the Tichka Pass, with no stops.
The Valencian team, Charquito, with Raúl Lorente and Estefanía Grau, stop for a quick spot of soldering on their Santana, but thankfully there are no other breakdowns.
The teams arrived at the Hotel Marrakech Le Tich’ka, all eager to enjoy the trophy ceremony. Romain Rollet and Alberto Martínez, the Franco-spanish team, win the first prize in the Raid classification. Rui Miguel Teixeira and Rui Amaro Andrade Teixeira, with their Lightweight, win the Best Team Spirit prize, voted by the participants.
In the end, these adventurers, coming from five different countries, talk the same language: the one spoken by their tireless Land Rover machines. A spirit that still today persists in the Santana Trophy.