Road Rallying Comes to Plaine-Champagne, Chamarel and La Nicolière

Motorsport fans in Mauritius have a busy weekend ahead, with three rally events scheduled across different parts of the island from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2025. The competitions follow slalom events held in Vacoas on 24 and 25 October, keeping the island's automobile racing calendar firmly in motion.

Authorities have confirmed temporary road closures in three areas: Plaine-Champagne, La Nicolière and Chamarel. Drivers and residents in those regions should plan their journeys accordingly, as access to certain roads will be restricted at specific times over the three-day period.

On Friday 30 October, the road between the Mares roundabout and the Chamarel church, running through the Plaine-Champagne highland area in the southwest of the island, will be closed from 5:30 pm until 2:00 am on Saturday morning.

On Saturday 31 October, restrictions move to La Nicolière, in the north of Mauritius. The road between the La Nicolière bridge and the Salazie road junction will be closed from noon until 6:00 pm.

On Sunday 1 November, Chamarel takes centre stage once more. The section of road linking the Terres des Sept Couleurs, the famous geological attraction known for its multicoloured earth, to the Central Water Authority (CWA) reservoir at Choisy will be closed from 10:15 am to 6:15 pm. The CWA is the public body responsible for water supply across Mauritius.

It is important to note that these closure windows indicate when roads are shut to general traffic, not necessarily the precise start and finish times of each race. Organisers typically use the full window to manage safety, course preparation and post-event clearance.

What this means for residents and visitors: if you are travelling through Plaine-Champagne on Friday evening, planning to visit the Terres des Sept Couleurs in Chamarel on Sunday, or driving near La Nicolière on Saturday afternoon, you will need to use alternative routes. Tourists staying in the southwest of the island, a popular area for hotels and guesthouses, should check with their accommodation about the best detours during the Sunday closure in particular. Local authorities have not yet published a list of alternative routes, so travellers are advised to allow extra time or consult Google Maps for live traffic updates.

Rally and slalom competitions are a well-established part of Mauritius's sporting calendar, attracting both local competitors and enthusiastic crowds who gather roadside to watch. The scenic routes through Plaine-Champagne and Chamarel, with their winding mountain roads, are considered among the most challenging and spectacular stages on the island.

Source: ION News