Dakar: The rally-raid in Saudi Arabia began with a prologue.

      This morning in Saudi Arabia the 48th Dakar Rally officially began. 317 two- and four-wheeled vehicles were cleared to start this year, and the total number of competitors in the main event is 564 people. These are motorcycle and car racers, as well as their co-drivers, and they represent 49 different countries.

      As is customary, a so‑called prologue takes place on the first day; its distance is small by rally‑raid standards — just 96 km, of which only 22 km is the timed special stage.

      As usual, the motorcyclists were the first to set off — there are 115 of them, and they compete in three classes, while the other participants drive off‑road vehicles and trucks. According to the organizers’ official statistics, there are 72 Ultimate‑class cars, 7 in the Stock category (virtually production cars with minor modifications), 37 Challenger‑class cars, 41 SSVs and 45 trucks.

      But that’s not the whole picture, because there are also categories such as Dakar Classic (vehicles produced between 1986 and 2005) and Mission 1000 (cars and motorcycles using alternative fuels and energy).

      Overall the rally‑raid bivouac accommodates 787 participants and 421 vehicles of various classes. The largest contingents among the racers come from France (188 people), Spain (106) and Italy (68).