4L Trophy

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Across the Moroccan desert

Established in 1997 upon the initiative of Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Rennes, 4L Trophy is a humanitarian rally with Renault 4 cars. Its objective is to drive across the Moroccan desert to provide children school supplies.

The next event of 4L Trophy – the 12th event – will start on February 19, 2009. It is the main European student event for humanitarian purposes by the number of participants.^[1]

It includes 1000 teams - 2000 students - accompanied by a team of professionals (engineers, doctors, journalists and TV crews) driving through France, Spain and various stages in the Moroccan desert, thus nearly 6000 km.

1 Presentation
2 Organisation
- 2.1 Route
- 2.2 Departure Village
3 History
4 External links
5 Notes

[edit] Presentation

[edit] Humanitarian Dimension

The objective of the event is schooling 3000 Moroccan children, that is why each team aims at delivering 50kg of school equipment.

Each year more than 50 tons of school supplies are brought in Morocco. One part is given to the Moroccan League for the Protection of Children in Fez and the other part is distributed in schools along the route.

[edit] Sport aspect

Every day, the aim is to win the day's stage using the Road Book, a map of Morocco and a compass. The ranking is based on the teams' ability to drive in the desert and to reach the checkpoints as required.

[edit] A citizen Eco Raid

Respecting the environment is a concern of 4L Trophy.

The partnership with CO2 Solidarity aims at making up for CO2 emissions by funding a program for environmental protection in order to improve the living conditions of Moroccan people.

The participation in the "Clean Desert" operation involves meticulous cleaning of bivouacs and rehabilitation of tracks. All Road Books are all printed on recycled paper.

[edit] Organisation

[edit] Route

Teams will leave from Paris and Bordeaux in the direction of Algeciras to sail to Morocco. Thus all participants will have to drive though France and Spain.

Fez is the first stage where the participants will have to cross the mountains, dunes and wadis during nearly 1500 km of trails in the Moroccan desert.

The arrival will be in Marrakech where a closing ceremony will take place.

[edit] Departure Village

Each year the rally starts with a "departure village" that gathers together all the participants in the rally.

This is also the opportunity to conduct technical and administrative audits, compliance checks of vehicles, passports and car insurance, do interview with a doctor , check the list of school supplies, etc. It permit also at the ((ESC Rennes]] crew to provide information about the adventure they will be facing.

[edit] History

1998: 1st event of the rally 4L Trophy. 3 teams
1999: 8 teams
2000: 15 teams
2001: 4th event - 45 teams

Start of the collaboration between Désertours and ESC Rennes

2002: 100 teams - The media are increasingly present
2003: 6th event - 180 teams
2004: 270 teams

1st Departure Village in Paris (Stade de France). TV and radios become present on the event

2005: 8th event

Launch of European Challenge. 1st departure village Trocadero. 1st closing night at La Fantasia (Marrakesh). Images sent to the daily satellite TV channels.