The legendary rally, which runs for around 8,000 kilometres this year, opens and ends in the Red Sea port of Janbu, Poland's PAP news agency reported.
The Polish contingent includes the Goczał family, Eryk, Michał and Marek. Eryk became the youngest-ever Dakar Rally winner when he triumphed in the SSV class in 2024.
The three Goczał drivers went to bed early on New Year's Eve, to prepare for testing their Toyota's the next day.
"I would trade every New Year's Eve party for a chance to compete in the Dakar rally," Eryk told reporters.
Eryk Goczał competes in a previous Dakar Rally. Photo: PAP/EPA/Aaron Wishart
The weather is hot at Janbu, up to 30 degrees Celsius, but this is set to change once the Dakar caravan reaches further into the Arabian peninsula.
Nighttime temperatures may drop to around zero Celsius then, which may cause some discomfort, especially for those who sleep in tents, the Polish state news agency reported.
Tomasz Staniszewski, with co-driver Stanisław Postawka, will fly the Polish flag in the Classic category. They finished an eye-catching fourth last year.
Their Porsche 924 has no air-conditioning, so the Poles made two additional holes in the car's roof.
"It's a breath of fresh air," Staniszewski told reporters.
Konrad Dąbrowski, who will compete in the motorbike class, said he preferred "this heat to the extreme cold."
"It will definitely be nicer during the warm days here, than later, at Hail, when the temperature will be below zero," he said.
The organisers made sure there were lots of attractions for the drivers waiting for the Dakar Rally to start.
At Janbu camp there is a mini-football pitch, table tennis gear and a flipper saloon.
However, most drivers prefer to quietly focus on the start of the rally on Saturday. It may be the most important rally of their lives, reporters were told.
The 48th Dakar Rally starts at Janbu on January 3. After two days' driving around the Red Sea port city, the competitors will head for Al-Uli. Next, there will be stops at Hail, Riyadh, Wadi ad-Dawasir, Bisha and Al Henakiyah.
On January 16, the drivers will return to Janbu, before finishing the rally in the Red Sea port city on January 17.
In all, there will be a prologue and 13 stages, including two marathon stages with no opportunity to service the cars overnight.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, Dakar Rally