One last evening in the Gazelles bubble

The Gazelles are almost unrecognizable on this last night in Essaouira, after trading in their rally vests for elegant evening wear. All are invited to Hotel Medina for a festive evening, outdoors – thanks to Covid – on the patio. A huge lighted “30” hangs over the stage on which a band has been set up. The teams, their guests, the organizers and various Rallye partners arrive to the sound of live music in an “extraordinary” decor, comments Stéphanie of Team 203 (Sophie LIOUST-BARDY / Stéphanie GOURLOO).

Some Gazelles are accompanied by loved ones while others stay together, groups of friends formed at the bivouac or after sharing a memorable incident in the dunes. It is no surprise that the electric teams are seated at the same table! Nobody wants to think about the return to reality and going back to work. “I just want to stay in my bubble”, sighs Yolande of Team 602 (Armelle MEDARD-LANG / Yolande BENS).

Solidarity to the end

This evening is also an occasion to see the images captured throughout this 30th edition. Several videos are shown, eliciting laughs and cheers from the Gazelles on seeing themselves on the big screen, as well as a slideshow of the best photos of these seventeen days of adventure, from Nice until the official finish in Essaouira.

Dominique Serra, accompanied by Tsarine CEO Franck Coste, invites all the guests present to raise a glass of champagne to mark the launch of this gala evening that will close the 30th edition.

The winners of each class are once again invited onto the stage to receive gifts including a fuel voucher from Afriquia and an 18-carat gold sand ladder set with precious stones. “There is a team that I particularly admired during this rally, and that is Team 240 (Juliette LEPAGE / Dominique CAPDEVIELLE / Sandrine LEPAGE). I would like to give them our Afriquia voucher”, says Sonia of Team 39 (Betty KRAFT / Sonia BAUDOIN-GUERARD)before calling Juliette, Sandrine and Dom to the stage in a show of solidarity in keeping with the atmosphere that reigned on this 30th edition.

The Gazelles are in for a musical treat: Tibz opens the festivities before handing over to Yannick Noah, who galvanizes the guests with his popular hits. It is time to enjoy one final evening in the Gazelles bubble before tomorrow’s early start for Tanger and the ferry back to France.