Monaco, April 12, 2025. The engines will roar to life on the French Riviera, but the soul of the race lies deep in the Moroccan desert. The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles is back for its 34th edition—bolder, more committed, and still entirely driven by women. This one-of-a-kind event blends endurance, solidarity, and eco-consciousness, bringing together 344 women from 11 different countries to take on the dunes without GPS—just a compass, a map, and sheer determination.
From April 12 to 26, participants—known as “Gazelles”—will set off from Monaco and journey across the sweeping Sahara landscape, eventually reaching the windswept coastal town of Essaouira. Competitors range in age from 22 to 71, including first-timers and seasoned veterans, friends, mothers and daughters, coworkers, and adventure seekers. Their shared goal? To navigate through checkpoints using the shortest possible distance, not the fastest time. This rally isn’t about speed—it’s about strategy, precision, and resilience. Since its creation in 1990, the event has redefined motor racing as something more thoughtful, more respectful, and deeply human.
That human element is what gives the rally its soul. It’s not just engines powering across the sand—it’s women rewriting their own stories, pushing their limits, supporting one another, and rising to meet the unforgiving terrain. Each route becomes a narrative of endurance and grit, where improvisation has no place and preparation is everything.
The rally spans six stages, including two marathon legs, all off-road, across several vehicle categories: 4x4s, trucks, quads, crossovers, side-by-sides, and even electric vehicles. It’s a test of both mental focus and physical stamina. Each day, teams chart their own course using only a map, a ruler, and a compass. No tech shortcuts. No satellite guidance. Just old-school navigation in a world obsessed with digital precision.
But while the approach is rooted in tradition, the rally also embraces forward-thinking innovation. The E-Gazelles category, introduced with strong support from Prince Albert II of Monaco, showcases fully electric vehicles as a path to sustainable adventure. This year, three retrofitted 4x4s—classic models converted to electric—will join the field, proving that speed and sustainability can go hand in hand, even in the harshest conditions.
Over the years, the rally has formed a deep bond with Morocco, where the desert offers more than just a playground for competition. From the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi to stark mountain ranges and surreal, moonlike plateaus, the landscape itself becomes part of the experience. The final destination, Essaouira, will welcome every Gazelle on April 26, not with rankings but with reverence. Whether first or last, every woman is celebrated as a hero.
This event isn’t just about winning—it’s about courage. About stepping into the unknown, breaking barriers, and pushing beyond what you thought was possible. In a world where men still dominate much of the sports and automotive space, the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles carves out a different path—one defined by passion, perseverance, and the power of women rewriting the rules.
