GWM Morocco has held a celebration event in Casablanca after winning the 2026 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, a major off-road competition in the Moroccan desert.
The event, called “Masters of the Desert – The Celebration”, took place at the company’s Avenue des FAR showroom. It marked the success of sisters Jawhara and Dounia Bennani, who took part in the rally driving a GWM TANK 300.
The rally is not about speed. It is about navigation. Teams cross the Sahara using only paper maps and compasses, with no GPS or mobile phones allowed. The winner is the team that travels the shortest distance between checkpoints.
Organisers also run a charity programme, Cœur de Gazelles, which supports mobile clinics that provide healthcare in remote areas of Morocco.
M. Younes El Aouad, General Director of Tractafric Motors Morocco, said the result shows the strength of the brand’s vehicles in difficult conditions.
Jawhara Bennani said the vehicle gave them confidence in the desert. Dounia Bennani said its reliability helped them focus on navigation without worrying about the car.
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The vehicle used
The GWM TANK 300 is built for rough terrain. It uses a strong body-on-frame design, which helps it cope with heavy impacts and uneven ground.
It has a 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine with 220 PS and 380 Nm of torque. It also has 224 mm of ground clearance, with a 33-degree approach angle and 34-degree departure angle, which helps it move over sand dunes and steep tracks.
The vehicle includes a low-range gearbox and three differential locks at the front, centre and rear. These help keep it moving even when grip is limited.
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Wider company expansion
The win comes as Great Wall Motor continues to grow in Morocco through its partnership with Optorg Group.
The company entered the Moroccan market in 2024 and now offers several vehicle ranges, including SUVs, electric cars, and off-road models.
New showrooms are planned in cities including Marrakech, Laâyoune, Dakhla and Errachidia over 2025 and 2026, alongside existing sites in Casablanca and Rabat.
Globally, GWM has also expanded sales, with strong demand for its off-road and electric vehicles in several international markets.
The company says the rally win shows that its vehicles can handle tough desert conditions in real-world use.
