The Dakar Rally is comfortably located in the oasis of Saudi Arabia, where oil money is used to fund the race and where unexpected improvements are introduced daily for the thousands of residents who form the traveling caravan. Homes now have hot showers, meals available almost 24 hours a day, and even air conditioning, something not seen in Africa’s early days. And the best continues. From January 3 to 17, 2026, the project marks the 48th edition of Frenchman Thierry Sabine’s 1977 Sahara desert adventure, marking his seventh return to the Arabian Desert.
Arabia’s pastoral landscapes are well known to those who make sure to mention them, but they are by no means known for their less than beautiful landscapes, and the menu will be customary in the latest edition. The difficulty list is very high, with very high abilities in the main categories of cars and bikes. “We sought balance and symmetry during the two weeks of competition,” said rally director David Castella. “We have achieved a high level in recent years, which is pleasing for me and for all our competitors in general,” added the French former pilot.
An 8,000 km adventure, 4,900 km of which is 24 hours a day, with 325 vehicles waiting for participants to embark on the adventure. Of the 118 cars that scored, Spain’s Edgar Canet (KTM) and Tosha Chalayna (Honda) ranked high. In Coach, the incombustible Carlos Sainz (Ford) will be aiming for his fifth Touareg trophy in 63 years with a Caravan that holds the record for Elite Prototypes (72 cars). Four wheels away, Laia Sanz will make her debut in the current category at Ebro, and from there she will continue to race at the foot of Cañon, leading the charge from Cristina Gutierrez (Dasia), Nani Roma (Ford) and Isidor Esteve (Toyota).
Competition takes place on the dunes one day each week, with a 10th day break in the capital Riyadh. There will also be a divided part of the marathon stage as a shelter, where all competitors, professional and amateur, will share the campaign camp and the night at the bottom, with military proportions, without any assistance from mechanics or equipment, with such rigor that it will bring the participants back to their origins, and in true “Dakalian” spirit.
“Every day there are long kilometers and each stage has a little bit of everything: stones, very technical parts, faster parts, dunes, arenas… there are areas that are known but never lost,” Castella explains. At the competitive level, little has changed and the philosophy remains the same. “Even if you give 100% every day, you probably won’t make it to the end,” says Sébastien Loeb, one of motorsport’s icons who has spent years chasing the elusive glory of rallying. This year there will be more favorites than ever in all categories, including defending motorcycle champion Daniel Saunders of Australia (KTM) and Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Alrajhi (Toyota) of automobiles.
As with all sports, over-specialization takes over Dakar’s vibrancy, easing race logistics and complicating travel even further by starting and finishing on the Red Sea coast of Yanbu and avoiding remote areas of the salubrious desert. Other camps will be set up in AlUla, Hail, Wadi ad Dawasir, Bisha and Al Henakiyah.
This is a gesture recognized by all the parties surrounding the competition, which always entrusts Navidades to all the protagonists, and later when they travel, Carrera has to carry the grapes to the departing plane. Design is relative. “Solo” vehicles tend to make seven trips in 14 days, a record low for Arabia. So you can feel more at ease helping participants during endless night shifts while they try to get your attention. Background In the structure of a mechanic testing an engine, this is not at all easy.
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