Dakar Rally News: TL’O Announces Ultimate Rally Classic for 1976-2000 Vintage Cars
In a thrilling development for vintage rally enthusiasts, TL’O has created the Ultimate Rally Classic, a historic rally raid event exclusively for vehicles produced between 1976 and 2000. The inaugural edition of this prestigious rally is set to take place in the fall of 2025, with a route stretching from France to Morocco.
The Ultimate Rally Classic is headed by Pascal François, the renowned founder and director of the Pioneers Classic, another historic rally that recently completed a successful run through the Moroccan landscape. Speaking to MotorLifestyle.com, François shared his excitement for the new venture, stating:
“After a two-year break, I had time to reflect and think things over properly. I missed the adventure of vintage cars. I missed Africa, especially Morocco. So next year, I decided to lead the team that you knew from Pioneers and head out again, this time for the Ultimate Rally Classic 2025 organised by TL’O.”
The rally will span approximately twelve days, with the starting point planned for Montauban, France. Similar to the iconic Paris-Dakar Rally and the current Africa Eco Race, competitors will then journey across the Mediterranean into Morocco, with the cities of Nador and Zagora among the scheduled stops before the final destination at Fort Bou-Jerif in the southern part of the country. Each stage will cover a distance of 280 to 350 kilometres.
The entry criteria for the Ultimate Rally Classic are straightforward:
- All cars and trucks manufactured between 1976 and 2000 are eligible
- The organizers are still deliberating on the inclusion of bikes
- TL’O is also considering a “Youngtimer” class for vehicles built between 2001 and 2015
The event is planned to commence in late October 2025 and conclude in early November, aligning with certain November holidays, as explained by François:
“I know Morocco quite well after visiting it for ten years so it’s hard to impress me, but this route does.”
The Ultimate Rally Classic joins a growing list of historic cross-country rallies in Morocco, including the RallyClassics Africa in September and the potential introduction of a Vintage class for the 2025 Morocco Desert Challenge. The Africa Eco Race also features a Historic category for cars built before 2007, while the Dakar Classic caters to vehicles made between 1979 and 2005.
With its focus on vintage rally cars, the Ultimate Rally Classic promises to be a thrilling addition to the world of Dakar and off-road motorsports, capturing the adventurous spirit of the golden era of rally raids.
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