After the 2008 event was canceled due to Al-Qaeda threats in Mauritania, the iconic race was relocated to South America for 2009, and later moved to Saudi Arabia.

During this grueling two-day phase, competitors must perform all vehicle repairs themselves using only the tools and spare parts they carry on board.

These scrolls feature a series of specialized symbols called "tulips" that indicate distances, compass headings, and hidden hazards along the unmarked desert route.

Originally introduced purely as mobile workshops and supply haulers for smaller teams, these massive trucks eventually evolved into their own highly competitive racing class.