Atlas-Sahara 2004

Guild of Motor Endurance

Atlas-Sahara 2004

North African Sports Car Challenge

The year is 2004, the month is October, the country is Morocco.

Welcome to the Atlas-Sahara

The sands of time will be returning Guild of Motor Endurance competitors to the edge of the Sahara. Sportscar crews are invited to once again take on the spectacular Atlas and Rif mountains and to journey amongst the dunes and oasis of southern Morocco.

This eight day tour of Morocco will not only include the expected tortuous mountain routes synonymous with endurance, and the allowance such roads make on any schedule, it will also take competitors through the dramatic landscapes on the challenging route separating the Atlas mountains and the Sahara desert. Here, Arabian nights will be spent under the stars in Berber tents. Morocco is a land of extremes and full of bewildering experiences, the Atlas-Sahara will be taking in many of them. From the breathtaking altitude roads to the barren silence of the desert; the heat; dust; long shadows in the sand; palm trees and gorges. The vibrant colours and smells; spices, overloaded donkeys and camels, and it’s nomadic friendly people. Having mint tea with kilim sellers, dishes of couscous and tajine, negotiating in dirham for a silver hand of Fatima while looking for a passage control in a medieval medina. These together with the pace of endurance in a sportscar are the ingredients for a 2004 Tuareg expedition. If you own a sports car and need an adventure, reserve your entry: 5–12 October.

www.atlas-sahara.com 

The eight day 2000 mile Atlas-Sahara route will be in the North African country of Morocco. The official start will be from the Port of Nador on the Northern coast of Morocco. Signing on, and the scrutineering of cars, will take place at the Port of Almeria in Southern Spain. Competitors and cars will then board the overnight ferry to Morocco.

From Nador the route crosses the Rif mountains to an overnight stop in the old Imperial Capital of Fes. From Fes day two will take competitors through the Moyen Atlas and over the Haut Atlas towards the Tafilalt, and the end of the road southwards. After a nights bivouac in Berber tents the route sweeps round to the west and into the Draa valley. Over the next days the Anti Atlas dominate the dramatic road west towards where the Sahara eventually meets the Atlantic. From the coast the route climbs again, this time via Tafraoute, followed by the sinuous route over the southern end of the Haut Atlas and Tizi-n-Test. Reaching Marrakech allows time to explore the lively Djemaa el-Fna Square and the medina. From the hotel in Marrakech the route heads north via Khenifra to the overnight stop in the old Moorish city of Meknes. The final day takes a detour via Roman Volubilis and the holy city of Moulay Idriss. From here only the road over the Rif separates competitors from the Finish, and the sea resort of Al Hoceima. The following day there is plenty of time to cover the short distance to the overnight ferry from Nador.

The route will be mostly asphalt. The regions being used will mean the trial route will include some unsurfaced sections of road (piste as used by ordinary road cars).

Eligible cars: Sportscars and three wheelers.

Specials:

Non-production sportscars built as a one off, Historic low volume sportscars and Specials.

Hand built sportscars:

Sportscars supplied by a manufacturer in component form for self-assembly.

Period and Classic sportscars:

Period sportscars and replicas.

Production sportscars:

Sportscars supplied by a manufacturer. Cars such as TVR, Lotus, Vauxhall VX220, Marcos & Morgan.

Secretary of the event: Carol Bury, 10 Coronation Street, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 3DA, tel: 01386 45556 (7pm-10pm)

carol@annbury.freeserve.co.uk   Mobile 07739 173995