Category: Nezaradené

The 2026 Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc has already seen the completion of the opening Prologue and the first two stages. The Slovak-Czech crew of Martin Benko and Jiří Kalát currently holds eighth place in the Challenge category standings.

So far, the competing crews have covered nearly seven hundred kilometers out of the total 2,773 kilometers they must complete to succeed. Given the field of twenty-six starters in the Challenge category, the NORWIT Racing crew’s position after the opening two stages is by no means bad. Martin and Jirka, driving the Taurus T3 Max, are up against exceptionally strong competition. The field at this year’s Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc 2026 is truly impressive—perhaps partly because, at this moment, no one knows for sure whether the Dakar Rally will actually take place. “We have already covered a significant portion of this year’s route, and I have to say that, so far, everything is going pretty much according to plan. The tracks are certainly not easy, though they are essentially what we expected. It’s a mix of sand and hard-packed gravel; today we even encountered some dunes. I’m pleased with our steady progress and hope it continues this way. We’ve managed to avoid unnecessary penalties, which is also a good thing,” said Martin Benko at the finish line of the second stage.

For the upcoming stages, the caravan of competitors taking part in the 2026 OLA Energy Rally of Morocco will be based in and around the town of Zagora, where the next stages of the competition are scheduled to take place. We will keep you updated on the progress of the Slovak NORWIT Racing crew.

As autumn approaches, the competition in Morocco returns. The 2026 Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc kicks off this Monday (September 28, 2026) with the Prologue, featuring the Slovak-Czech crew of Martin Benko and Jiří Kalát in their Tauris T3 Max.

Participants in the 2026 Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc face a 2,773-kilometer route, including 1,591 kilometers of timed special stages. The race begins in Agadir on September 28, 2026, and concludes in Zagora on October 3, 2026.

On the day the race begins, organizers have scheduled the traditional Prologue, the results of which will determine the starting order for the following day. The first competitive day (September 29, 2026) features a 268-kilometer stage from Agadir to Zagora. Upon reaching the finish, competitors will enter a second service zone where they will remain for the duration of the rally. This is because the subsequent four stages—running from September 30 to October 3, 2026—will all start in Zagora, with the route forming a loop around the town. Naturally, each stage will feature a different route and varying levels of difficulty, with the terrain consisting of a mix of sand and hard-packed gravel. Following the final, fourth loop (October 3, 2026) around the town of Zagora, the closing ceremony and the awards presentation for the top competitors will take place right in the town itself. Based on past experience with Moroccan rallies, it is clear that the entire event will be extremely demanding and diverse, and not all competitors will make it to the finish line.

The Slovak-Czech crew of Martin Benko and Jiří Kalát will compete in the FIA ​​Challenge category as the only team of its kind. A total of twenty-six high-caliber crews from fifteen countries will line up for the start of this category. The NORWIT Racing Team crew will be joined on the course by a factory-spec Taurus T3 Max vehicle. “I’ve competed in the Rally du Maroc before—not just on a motorcycle, but also in a buggy. That was last year, alongside Marek Sýkora. So, we have a rough idea of ​​what to expect; we know it won’t be easy—it’s going to be a real challenge. On top of that, we haven’t spent much time in the car lately. First, our race in Spain was cancelled over the summer, followed by the one in Hungary. So, we came here a bit early to get some solid training in and tune our Tauris for the Moroccan terrain. We went through scrutineering today, and everything kicks off on Monday. Wish us luck,” said Martin Benko.

It is also worth noting that this year’s Rallye du Maroc boasts a truly impressive lineup of competitors. The starting field features global stars such as Sébastien Loeb, Carlos Sainz, Nasser Al-Attiyah, and Stéphane Peterhansel, among others. This high turnout seems to stem from the fact that the 2027 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia is still facing uncertainty. Naturally, we are rooting for everyone—including the Slovak-Czech crew from the NORWIT Racing Team—and we will keep you updated on how our team fares at the 2026 Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc.