Turn Your Focus to the Sahara in 2026

Attention Ford fans, there’s a desert driving adventure just for you this September.

Driven to Extremes Sahara 2026 from Max Adventure will see drivers tackle part of the original Dakar Rally route in Mk2 Ford Focus cars over 11 days. The journey across Morocco from the Algerian border to the Atlantic coast will take in Gara Medour, as featured in Bond movie Spectre, the giant dunes of Erg Chebbi, the High Atlas mountains and the salt flats of Lake Iriki. Drivers will camp under desert skies and have their mettle – and metal – tested on rugged terrain far removed from the school runs and commutes that Focus drivers would normally, er, focus on.

You’ll need to provide your own 1.6-litre Mk2 Ford Focus, with prices from around £500 plus the cost of prepping it for the heat and dust of the desert. You’ll also need to get your car to Spain for the ferry to Morocco, after which Max Adventure will take over all the logistics, supplying guides, mechanical and medical support for the whole trip.

The team behind Max Adventure has a over 25 years of experience driving in extreme conditions, with the London to Cape Town driving record on their CV, as well as leading Hollywood actors and world-famous explorers around the world.

“Going on a difficult expedition without Max Adventure is not a very good idea!” says Sir Ranulph Fiennes in a testimonial. “Extreme professionals, you couldn’t be in better hands,” adds Henry Cavill.

Early birds can get a £100 discount on the entry fee for £1,295 per person, if paid before the end of January. Detour has started saving…

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