Teams in AUTO/TRUCK classes have to tackle the dunes “whatever it costs”… they have no choice!

They will have to choose one of three routes: X, Y or Z. 

Route Z meanders around the feet of the dunes: a good choice for less experienced Gazelles.. But while the slopes may be less steep and the hollows less deep, it is still the same sand.

And then there is Route Y, which passes close to the highest sandy peaks. The terrain is more rugged, the passes are narrower, and the teams climb higher up the dunes.

Finally there is Route X for the most experienced or those who dare … Behind every dune is another one, even higher than the last... And the sand which seems to melt as the day progresses and the temperature rises. Checkpoints may be visible from a distance, but time is slowed down by the difficulties encountered.

For QUAD/SSV/MOTO teams, the choice is simple: they have to do Route X!

Crossover/Hybrid, E-Gazelle Auto and E-Gazelle Innovation teamscan't take on the “big” dunes, but their route is no day at the beach! Rutted wadis followed by equally treacherous stretches of sand… landmarks that are easy to lose track of… Even for them, the day will not be an easy one.

And then in the evening, it will be tine to swap stories of the day's adventures and misadventures, bodies tired out by hours of stress, shovelling and towing... but nothing can detract from the pride of this day in the dunes. Rest assured… there are more to come!

On this second leg, in the dunes of ERG CHEBBI, competitors in AUTO/TRUCK Class must choose between 3 routes with different levels of difficulty.

The three routes, called X, Y and Z, all have checkpoints in the sand but different levels of difficulty.

Route X is the most challenging. Route Y is the intermediate route. Finally, Route Z is the most accessible, remaining in an area of low dunes.

Naturally, the values of the CPs reflect the level of difficulty of the chosen route.

A team that reaches all CPs of Route X will only be penalized the extra kilometres driven over the ideal “crow flies” distance. Teams that reach all CPs of Route Y will receive an additional penalty of 80 kilometres in addition to the extra kilometres driven over the ideal distance.

Finally, teams that complete Route Z will receive an additional penalty of 180 kilometres, in addition to the extra kilometres driven over the ideal distance.

During this leg, QUAD/MOTO/SSV teams must take Route X.

CROSSOVER/HYBRID, E-GAZELLE INNOVATION and E-GAZELLE AUTO teams have their own route outside the dunes.