Thixton will be in good company at Dakar Rally

ZIMBABWE’S Ashley Thixton is unlikely to “feel out of place” during his maiden appearance at next year’s Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.

The 2024 Dakar Rally kicks off in just three weeks from now, with 354 crews from around the world rearing to tackle the world’s toughest motorsport event.

On Friday, January 5, crews will line up to start Dakar 2024’s 157km prologue through the Arabian Desert around the Saudi city Al-Ula.

That sets the starting order for the next day’s first 532km Arabian desert stage to Al Henakiyah before 4 727km of racing and 7,891km overall, to the finish at Yanbu on Friday, January 19.

And Zimbabwe’s Thixton will be “equally at home” during the toughest

Rally in the world as he will be in the good company of a number of drivers and co-pilots from neighbouring South Africa.

Thixton is racing a Husqvarna motorcycle while Botswana’s Ross Branch is one of Southern African riders entered in the 2024 Dakar bike race.

And the two bikers will be in the warm company of a number of competitors from South Africa during the two-week event in the dunes of Saudi Arabia.

In fact, Dakar Rally 2024 will have a big South African presence.

According to reports from South Africa, more than half the cars entered in the desert race are built in that country, and several drivers and riders from Mzansi are competing.

Of the 72 cars entered in Dakar 2024, 38 of them were built in South Africa. These include 23 Toyota Hiluxes, 12 Centurys, three Red-Lined bakkies, and two Ford Rangers. That’s more than half the field!

More than 12 South Africans will either drive or navigate, including 2018 Rookie winner Hennie de Klerk and Juan Möhr in a privateer Hilux; Brian Baragwanath and Leonard Cremer in a Century CR7T; and Riaan Greyling navigating in a Red-Lined. In the motorcycle category, SA hopes will be upheld by Charan Moore, Kerim Fitz-Gerald, Bradley Cox and Michael Docherty.

And there will be a literal army of South Africans in the bivouac following and supporting the race.

“The fifth edition of Dakar in Saudi Arabia will be the toughest race since we have come to the Middle East,” said race director David Castera.

“We will race 4,727km and cover 7,891km of special stages, including a new two-day ‘48h chrono’ marathon stage, where competitors must stop at the nearest of eight bivouacs at 4pm and crews will have no contact with their teams. This one will be tough. Good luck to all competitors and teams,” concluded Castera.

Dakar 2024 is set to start on January 5, with a short prologue near the northern Saudi city of Alula.

Six tough stages will follow the prologue, including an innovative ‘48 hour Chrono’ stage, which is essentially an extended marathon stage.

This will be followed by the traditional rest day, which again takes place in the Saudi capital of Riyadh (January 13, 2024).

Six more stages will take the rally back towards the northern part of the country, before the event comes to an end in the coastal city of Yanbu, on January 19.