JEDDAH — Star drivers have begun arriving at the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) on Sunday for the Dakar Rally ahead of the 2021 edition of the premier rally’s Stage One, which starts from Jeddah Jan. 3, 2021.

While almost 680 cars, trucks, motorbikes and quad bikes along with eight helicopters and 15 containers of support equipment has already reached the Jeddah Islamic Port from France.

The 2021 Dakar rally from Jan. 3-15 starts from Jeddah and crosses a distance of 7,646 km, passing through Bisha, Wadi Al-Dawasir, Riyadh, Buraidah, Hail, Sakaka, NEOM, AlUla, and Yanbu before reaching the finishing line in Jeddah again on Jan. 15.

The 43rd edition sees a new class joining the collection of cars, bikes, quads, trucks, buggies and SSVs — with the Dakar Classic category confined to vehicles from the 1980s and 90s.

In a step to avoid fatal accidents, a raft of new safety measures include compulsory airbag vests for motorbike riders, aural warnings that will notify competitors in the approach to potential dangers with designated "slow zones" limiting the speed to 90km/h in especially tricky sectors.

The coronavirus pandemic forced organizers to delay plans to hold stages in neighboring states of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

Competitors and anyone connected with the rally will have to quarantine for 48 hours on arrival in Saudi Arabia, with regular testing in line with the example set by Formula One.

Former rally world champion Carlos Sainz won this year's Dakar and another luminary from the rally world, Sebastien Loeb, returns for the 2021 race hoping to win his first Dakar on his fifth attempt.