[5] The feedback from competitors about previous event was that there were too many rocky surfaces resulting in excessive tyre wear and punctures, and not enough sandy stages which traditionally dominated Dakar rally.
The organizers listened to the complaints and on 11 May 2021 revealed a new route which is characterized by a push into the sandy Empty Quarter.
Initially, due to very difficult terrain, the competitors were planned to be airlifted from stage 8 finish to Riyadh.
This category has been created for prototype vehicles relying on electric motors or any technology focused on reducing carbon emissions, such as biofuels and hydrogen.
Driven by Carlos Sainz, Stéphane Peterhansel and Mattias Ekström,[9] Audi Sport has set target of winning the rally.
[10] In truck category, Hino announced support in building a hybrid vehicle that will enter the event.
[11] Pioneering the new T1.E class, Audi demanded tyre inflation-deflation system in the cockpit, a larger chassis, buggy-sized wheels (17 inches) and more suspension travel than the 4x4s in T1.1 category.
Prodrive and Toyota Gazoo Racing teams objected, which forced the organizers to open up the possibility of a new T1+ category.
The tyre inflation-deflation system controllable from the cockpit will remain exclusive to category T1.3 two-wheel drive buggies and the new T1-E hybrid or electric vehicles, "to optimise their energy consumption".
[12] Electronic roadbooks will become standard to all vehicles from the car, SSV and truck categories with a view of limiting the differences in assistance resources between the teams.
On portions representing roughly 20% of the route, only navigation will be judged and not time, and each excess kilometre covered will cost points.
[14] Skyler Howes and José Ignacio Cornejo lost a lot of time on stage 1A and were more than 8 minutes behind the leader.
In the cars Guerlain Chicherit in a GCK Thunder buggy running on bio-ethanol fuel had problems with instrumentation and stopped on track.
[15] On stage 1B navigation was an issue and lots of drivers lost a significant amount of time finding a way point including, Ricky Brabec, Luciano and Kevin Benavides, Andrew Short, Juan Barreda, Toby Price, Maciej Giemza on bikes who lost between 30 and 50 minutes each on this waypoint.
[17][18] Giniel de Villiers had an incident with the bike rider César Zumaran and later was awarded a 5 minutes penalty for not stopping to check for the health of the other competitor, breaching the sport regulations.
[19] On 4 January it was announced that another incident involving de Villiers was under investigation by running over Mohamedsaid Aoulad Ali's bike when climbing a dune, rendering it unusable, de Villiers circled around to check on the status of the rider, but again did not stop to offer assistance.
In T3 category, the leader Seth Quintero had mechanical issues on that made him to penalize and being away from the fight for the final victory.
[23] Stages 5 and 6 had different routes for FIM (Bikes and Quads), and FIA (Cars, Light weight, SSVs and trucks competitors.
Stage 6 for bikes and quads was also neutralized after the first waypoint at km 101 due to rough track caused by heavy rain and the passage of cars and trucks in the day before.
The Belarusian team MAZ-SPORTauto, consisting of three MAZ vehicles in T5 category were banned from taking part in the event.
The vehicles, which were en route to the port of Marseille were turned around in Poland, and the admission fees frozen for the MAZ-SPORTauto crews: 502 - Siarhei Viazovich, Pavel Haranin, Anton Zaparoshchanka; 507 - Aliaksei Vishneuski, Maksim Novikau, Siarhei Sachuk; 517 - Aliaksandr Vasileuski, Aliaksandr Shved, Vital Muryleu.
[34][35] Dakar legend Erik van Loon was tested positive for COVID-19 before departing for Saudi Arabia, and was not able to compete.
On 30 December, a support vehicle with 6 competitors, including one driver, Philippe Boutron, exploded outside Donatello Hotel in Jeddah.
[44][45] FIA and ASO issued a statement expressing that "malice couldn't be ruled out at this time" and raised security level in the bivouacs, hotels and along all of the route.
[51] The five-hour penalty was reversed by the FIA 2 days later, after de Villiers' team presented evidence that the standard in-car warning system did not sound until 2 seconds before the collision with Ali's bike.
[52] Quad rider Toni Vingut crashed out on stage 2 and suffered two cracked ribs and a fracture in the fibula of his right leg.
[54] American motorcyclist Skyler Howes finished stage 5 with head, ankle and shoulder injuries, but without any memory of a crash.
The accident caused spinal injuries to Carrara's co-driver Enrico Gaspari, while Karyakin suffered a broken finger while making repairs to the damaged vehicle.
[59] Dakar rookie bike rider Isaac Feliu suffered a heavy fall on stage 9, causing trauma to head and chest.
[60] During the liaison for stage 12, a collision occurred between an assistance car for the PH-Sport team and a truck driven by a local resident.