Amputated navigator returns to Dakar 11 months after life-changing accident
Four-time Dakar Rally-winning navigator Mathieu Baumel has returned to the event this year, just 11 months after a serious accident and the amputation of his right leg. Baumel was on his way to Rally Monte Carlo at the beginning of 2025 when he was struck by a vehicle after stopping to help stranded motorists. The […]
How will the new Defender fare against Dakar’s fastest cars?
Land Rover’s Defender has been a familiar sight in the Dakar Rally for many years, but the British brand has never before lined up with a full factory team. That will change in 2026: the Defender will foray into the world’s biggest rally-raid with three factory entries, with 14-time Dakar winner Stephane Peterhansel spearheading the […]
Mattias Ekstrom leads Ford 1-2 in Prologue
Factory Ford driver Mattias Ekstrom drew first blood in the 2026 Dakar Rally, edging out team-mate Mitch Guthrie in Saturday’s Prologue. The 48th edition of Dakar kicked off in earnest on 3 January, with a total of 72 cars taking the start in the Ultimate class. The Prologue featured a 95km route around the Saudi […]
Juan Cruz Yacopini to miss 2026 Dakar Rally after sea diving incident
Juan Cruz Yacopini will miss the 2026 Dakar Rally after reportedly suffering serious injuries in a sea diving accident shortly before Christmas, although details have not yet been officially confirmed by his family. The Argentine driver was due to start his sixth Dakar Rally on Saturday, but that appearance has been ruled out. According to […]
These are leading contenders for the 2026 Dakar Rally
The 2026 Dakar Rally is shaping up to deliver one of the most closely fought battles in recent years. Ford and Dacia arrive in Saudi Arabia determined to apply the lessons they learned on their debut last year with the aim of ending Toyota’s dominance in the world’s most prestigious rally-raid. Toyota isn’t standing still […]
Full route, schedule and marathon stage details
The 47th edition of the Dakar Rally will begin on 3 January and mark the start of the 2026 motorsport season. As has been the case every year since 2020, the event will run entirely in Saudi Arabia, having moved from its former base in South America. This means the Gulf nation will be the […]
Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz to enter Dakar Rally under an alias
Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz and his celebrity partner Victoria Swarovski will contest the 2026 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia next month. In the shadow of rally legends Carlos Sainz Sr, Sebastien Loeb, and Nasser Al-Attiyah, another pair of well-known names will face the challenge at the 48th edition of Dakar, which will run from 3-17 […]
Gregoire Munster to contest Dakar Rally and WRC Monte Carlo in double-header
Gregoire Munster will rejoin M-Sport-Ford for the opening round of the 2026 World Rally Championship next month off the back of competing as a co-driver at the Dakar Rally. After two full WRC seasons piloting a Ford Puma Rally1, Munster’s rallying future appeared uncertain after M-Sport announced Josh McErlean and new recruit Jon Armstrong as […]
Sebastien Loeb admits you “need some luck to win” Dakar ahead of 10th start
Three weeks before the start of the Dakar, Sebastien Loeb stopped to take stock of his preparation with Dacia, the progress made since last year and the mindset with which he approaches his 10th start. In an interview with Motorsprot.com, he opens up about reliability, team orders and the uncertainty that comes with the iconic […]