The 2021 Dakar Rally is only a month away. Scrutineering begins January 1st in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Rally organizers have revealed the 2021 route. The rally will last two weeks. It will traverse 4,751 miles of some of the roughest Saudi Arabian terrain across 12 stages. This is the 43rd edition of the event.
Entries are still being accepted for the rally. We know that 2020 motorcycle winner Ricky Brabec will be back to defend his title. Brabec became the first American to win the event, riding for team Honda.
Polaris is backing a factory effort this year with drivers Kristen and Wayne Matlock and Craig Scanlon. Polaris will field 3 cars in the SSV class.
Here are the locations for the 12 Rally Stages:
| P | Saturday, january 2, 2021 | Jeddah > Jeddah | 11 km | 11 km | 11 km | 11 km | 11 km | 11 km | Prologue |
| 1 | Sunday, january 3, 2021 | Jeddah > Bisha | 622 km | 277 km | 622 km | 277 km | 622 km | 277 km | Stage1 |
| 2 | Monday, january 4, 2021 | Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir | 685 km | 457 km | 685 km | 457 km | 685 km | 457 km | Stage2 |
| 3 | Tuesday, january 5, 2021 | Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir | 630 km | 403 km | 630 km | 403 km | 630 km | 403 km | Stage3 |
| 4 | Wednesday, january 6, 2021 | Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh | 813 km | 337 km | 813 km | 337 km | 813 km | 337 km | Stage4 |
| 5 | Thursday, january 7, 2021 | Riyadh > Buraydah | 625 km | 419 km | 625 km | 419 km | 625 km | 419 km | Stage5 |
| 6 | Friday, january 8, 2021 | Buraydah > Ha’il | 655 km | 485 km | 655 km | 485 km | 655 km | 485 km | Stage6 |
| – | Saturday, january 9, 2021 | Ha’il | Rest | |||
| 7 | Sunday, january 10, 2021 | Ha’il > Sakaka (marathon) | 737 km | 471 km | 737 km | 471 km | 737 km | 471 km | Stage7 |
| 8 | Monday, january 11, 2021 | Sakaka > Neom | 709 km | 375 km | 709 km | 375 km | 709 km | 375 km | Stage8 |
| 9 | Tuesday, january 12, 2021 | Neom > Neom | 579 km | 465 km | 579 km | 465 km | 579 km | 465 km | Stage9 |
| 10 | Wednesday, january 13, 2021 | Neom > AlUla | 583 km | 342 km | 583 km | 342 km | 583 km | 342 km | Stage10 |
| 11 | Thursday, january 14, 2021 | AlUla > Yanbu | 557 km | 511 km | 557 km | 511 km | 557 km | 511 km | Stage11 |
| 12 | Friday, january 15, 2021 | Yanbu > Jeddah | 452 km | 225 km | 452 km | 225 km | 452 km | 225 km | Stage 12 |
