Botswana to host World Rally-Raid Championship stages

Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday September 29, 2026 09:33

The development was announced on Monday, with Botswana becoming part of the third round of the five-round 2027 championship. The South African Safari Rally is the first race in Southern Africa to be part of the World Championship.

The race will retain its main base in Sun City, but competitors will cross into Botswana for two stages, making the event the first cross-border edition of the rally.

The provisional route will take competitors through Kgatleng and Kweneng. The Botswana section is scheduled for June 16 and 17, with competitors expected to spend a night at a satellite marathon camp before continuing the following day and returning to South Africa.

The two Botswana stages are provisionally expected to cover about 790km, comprising approximately 430km on the first stage and 360km on the second.

The detailed route and distances remain subject to confirmation by organisers.

The marathon format will require competitors to spend the night without their usual technical support, meaning crews will have to rely on their own resources to carry out repairs before continuing the following day.

Botswana's inclusion gives the country a place on a championship calendar that also features some of the biggest names in rally-raid, including the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal and Rallye du Maroc.

The 2027 W2RC season will open with the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia from January 1 to 15, followed by the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge from March 21 to 26.

The South African Safari Rally will then form the third round from June 14 to 19, before the championship moves to Portugal from September 21 to 26 and concludes in Morocco from October 24 to 29.

For Botswana, the inclusion represents a significant development for the country's motorsport profile, with international rally-raid competitors set to race on Botswana terrain for championship points.

It will also provide local motorsport enthusiasts with an opportunity to watch a world championship event on home soil, while exposing the local terrain to an international rally-raid audience.

The South African Safari Rally first joined the W2RC calendar in 2025, making the 2027 edition its second appearance in the championship.