Asia’s most epic motorsport showdown is back! The 21st Taklimakan Rally revved into action on May 20 in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where 233 competitors from 130 teams are gearing up to conquer 5,183km of unforgiving desert terrain over 13 days. 🌵🚗
Dubbed the "Dakar of the East," the rally features 10 adrenaline-pumping stages, testing drivers with everything from towering sand dunes to rocky plateaus. Among the stars is Martin Michek, a Dakar Rally veteran, who praised the event’s scale: "The paddock here is massive—so many cars, so many competitors. It’s a BIG rally!"
International racers like Aliyyah Koloc, fresh from the Dakar Rally, are drawn to the event’s growing prestige. "I love tough races," she said, "and this is the next best thing after Dakar." Her co-driver Sebastien Delaunay even sampled local cuisine, joking about trying chicken feet: "A little strange… but the mountains here? Absolutely stunning." 🍗🏔️
Since its 2005 debut, the rally has become Asia’s longest cross-country race, attracting teams from the UK, France, Spain, and beyond. Will this year’s competitors survive the desert’s wrath? Tune in as engines roar until June 1! 🔥
