Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles: 160 all-female crews set to depart from Nice toward the Moroccan Sahara
No fewer than 160 all-female crews will set off this Saturday from Nice toward the Moroccan Sahara for the 35th edition of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, a sporting and human event unique in the world.
The official start of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc, scheduled from March 27 to April 11, will take place at the Palais Nikaïa, “before heading to southern Morocco to experience an extraordinary adventure based on traditional navigation, without GPS,” organizers said.
The crews, made up of 320 women from diverse backgrounds taking on a sporting, human and solidarity-driven challenge, will then cross the starting line as a prelude to a singular desert adventure.
They are divided into four categories: Quads-SSV, 4×4-Trucks, electric vehicles and Crossover, “a diversity that reflects the evolution of the competition while remaining true to its DNA.”
Six nationalities represented in an off-road rally
The participants represent Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Switzerland and Morocco, a presence that illustrates the international reach of the event.
In this exclusively off-road rally, without navigation systems to guide them, the winning crew is the one that covers the shortest distance over nine days and six stages, in line with responsible and solidarity-based values.
The opening day of this anniversary edition will feature musical entertainment, including a concert by Joseph Kamel, dance performances and the creation of a giant fresco by an artist from Nice.
“The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc is the only international all-female automotive competition that prioritizes navigation and strategy over speed, with the objective of covering the fewest kilometers possible between checkpoints using only a map and compass,” the organizers emphasized in a statement.
A pioneer in environmental responsibility, the rally is committed to an ISO 14001-certified organization, the development of the E-Gazelles category and solidarity initiatives.
“This anniversary edition embodies both the rally’s heritage and its ability to reinvent itself,” said the founder of the event, Dominique Serra, noting that for 35 years it has demonstrated “that it is possible to combine performance, commitment and respect.”
Launched in 1990, the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles promotes a unique vision of competition, based on strategy, precision, mutual support and self-improvement rather than speed.
For the 2026 edition, international star and Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh has been named official ambassador of the 35th edition of the rally.
Editorial team/le7tv (Press Release)
