For the first time of this 10th anniversary course, the start of SS03 on Thursday was given at the bivouac. This gave the competitors some extra time to sleep and allowed the assistance crews to see the race cars start full throttle. The leg started with a nice fast track at the foot of a very special mountain range and then the track has cairns to indicate the way to Assa, this will therefore make navigation very easy.

Throughout the leg, the competitors will pass many military outposts but also many dried lakes. It will be near the end of the stage where the navigation gets a bit more complicated as they head back toward the Oued Draa. The finish will be set up on the outskirts of the town of Assa, which the AFRICA ECO RACE® has been passing regularly for the past 9 years.

The Organizers announced the first seven retirements in the Bikes and Quads category. 34 Bikes/Quads made it to the start, officially not at the start were Jamie Smith (110), Walter Damasso (112), Christopher Cork (119), Simone Agazzi (120), Eric Chapsal (127), Pascal Bouchet (166) and Giovanni Stefani (190).

SS03 - Thursday January 4th 2018 Agdal - Assa (Morocco) 421 km overall

Start at the bivouac / stage 400 km / liaison 21 km

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