The Mayor of Loulé Municipal Council, Telmo Pinto, expressed his joy today that the Algarve, particularly the municipalities of Loulé and Faro, has been chosen to host the start of one of the world's emblematic motorsport events. Between January 5th and 10th, 2027, the Dakar Rally will be in the South of the country, according to the announcement made today by the ACP - Automóvel Clube de Portugal, with the Algarve Stadium serving as the epicenter of the inaugural moment of the race.
“It is with enormous satisfaction and pride that we receive the news that the Dakar will return to Portugal in 2027, with the territory of Loulé and Faro playing a prominent role in this international event. The opportunity to host the start of a race with a long history and media projection is a source of great pride for both municipalities, and it represents the recognition of the capacity this territory has demonstrated in organizing and hosting major international events,” the mayor highlighted.
In the year the event returns to Portugal, after having passed through our country and the Algarve in 2006 and 2007, the administrative and technical checks, private team tests, the start ceremony, the prologue, and the first stage of the race will take place in the Algarve and Baixo Alentejo. The operations center will be in the municipalities of Loulé and Faro before the caravan moves to Morocco.
For Telmo Pinto, who is supporting the organization in partnership with his counterpart from Faro, António Pina, this moment will be an “extraordinary opportunity to promote Loulé and the Algarve to millions of people worldwide, showcasing the diversity of our territory and the quality of our tourist offerings”.
The mayor also emphasizes that the Dakar taking place in January, during the so-called low tourist season, is “of increased importance,” as it contributes to the dynamization of the local and regional economy during a period of lower tourist demand, “with expected positive impacts on hotels, restaurants, commerce, and other economic activities”.
It is worth remembering that Loulé has been establishing itself as a reference destination for hosting major sporting events, and the arrival of the Dakar reinforces this position, demonstrating that the municipality has all the conditions, both in terms of infrastructure and organizational capacity, to be associated with the biggest global events. The International Triathlon of Quarteira – Prof. Carlos Gravata, the Portugal Invitational in golf, the Algarve Marathon (December 6th), and the Iron Man (April 3rd, 2027) are some of the international-scale events held in this municipality.
The Dakar Rally marks the start of the Cross-Country Rally World Championship and is organized by Amaury Sport Organisation and the Automóvel Club de Portugal. After Portugal. After the Algarve, the race heads to the African continent.
