This year, I’m writing about the Rallye du Maroc from the American perspective. This race occurs before the Dakar rally raid, and teams use it as a last possibility to test their vehicles.

Ford brought two of its four crews to test the new Ford Performance Raptor T1+. After the first stage, Carlos Sainz showed satisfactory results and finished third.

Another Ford Raptor with Mattias Ekström at the wheel was fifth. Though both crews aren’t competing for points in the ”Ultimate experimental” classification, Ford’s results are still promising.

But the race is over for the American motorcyclist Ricky Brabec. He hurt his knee during the stage and is out of the race now.

It’s unfortunate for Brabec, as he aimed to win the World Rally-Raid Championship but had to withdraw. Now, he can concentrate on preparing for the upcoming Dakar.

Tragically, French competitor Frédéric Baudry passed away after a crash during the first stage. Despite being quickly transported to the hospital by helicopter, his life could not be saved.

Still, the race continues, and some prominent American racers compete.

Seth Quintero is in the 21st position in cars, 17 minutes and 52 seconds behind the leader. He represents the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team.

Mitch Guthrie Jr. is third in the Challenger category. He and his copilot, Kellon Walch, are behind the leader for 5 minutes and 24 seconds. Both are driving for the Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team.

Though short but challenging, the first stage demonstrated that this year’s Rallye du Maroc would be challenging for its participants. Four days ahead will bring more twists in the racetrack’s course.

But one challenge was waiting for the pro drivers before the race. The organizers decided to make all roadbooks for all the participants digital. Some racers complained that they would not see anything during the race. However, the race director, David Castera, is determined that the future is here, and everybody must enter the digital era. Rallye du Maroc is no exception. 

As the race continues, with new challenges like the digital roadblocks, the next four days promise even more twists and turns in this year’s Rallye du Maroc. For the American racers, it’s a test of endurance, skill, and adaptability.