
A Thrilling Ride to the Finish Line
The 47th edition of the legendary Dakar Rally—and the 6th hosted in Saudi Arabia—came to a dramatic conclusion in Shubaytah, with 175 vehicles conquering the gruelling challenge. A total of 77 bikes (including 67 Rally 2), 40 Ultimate cars, 1 Stock car, 21 Challengers, 23 SSVs, and 13 trucks crossed the final finish line after covering an epic 7,453 km (FIM) or 7,828 km (FIA). Alongside them, 52 vehicles that used their joker entries also completed the course, while 108 competitors—32.24% of the field—were forced to bow out early.
Bikes: Sanders Claims First, KTM Secures a 20th Triumph
Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders delivered an unrelenting masterclass, leading from start to finish to become the second Australian to claim Dakar glory, following in the footsteps of Toby Price. The KTM rider’s dominance was evident as he won 4 out of the 6 opening specials and managed his lead masterfully through the punishing Empty Quarter. His victory marks KTM’s 20th Dakar triumph, further cementing the brand’s supremacy.
Honda once again placed two riders on the podium, with Tosha Schareina (2nd) earning his maiden Dakar medal and Adrien Van Beveren (3rd) replicating last year’s performance. Meanwhile, Edgar Canet made history as the youngest official rider at 19, seizing both the Rally 2 title and the best rookie honours.
The intense battle in the Original by Motul class saw Romanian Emanuel Gyenes edge out Frenchman Benjamin Melot by just 3 minutes and 5 seconds, a thrilling repeat of their 2020 showdown. Meanwhile, KTM’s total dominance was underscored by their haul of 8 out of 13 stage wins.
Ultimate: Al Rajhi’s Long-Awaited Triumph on Home Soil
Saudi Arabia had a new hero as Yazeed Al Rajhi finally realised his Dakar dream, winning in his 11th attempt. After trailing South African Henk Lategan at the halfway mark, Al Rajhi surged ahead in the latter stages, using the punishing Empty Quarter to his advantage. His victory, by just under 4 minutes, makes him only the second driver to win the Dakar in his home country, following Pierre Lartigue’s 1994 triumph in Paris-Dakar-Paris.
The battle for third saw Mattias Ekström fend off five-time champion Nasser Al Attiyah, securing a podium finish and a stage victory for Ford in their Dakar debut. Meanwhile, young talents like Mitch Guthrie, Juan Cruz Yacopini, and Seth Quintero demonstrated that the new generation is quickly closing in on the veterans.

Challenger: Cavigliasso’s Flawless Victory
Nicolas Cavigliasso and his wife, Valentina Pertegarini, controlled the Challenger category from Bisha onwards, leveraging their 2024 W2RC experience to avoid costly mistakes. Their dominance left them over an hour ahead of runner-up Gonçalo Guerreiro, with Pau Navarro rounding off the podium after an impressive second week.
Saudi drivers made history in this edition, with Yazeed Al Rajhi’s Ultimate title complemented by Dania Akeel’s stage 10 victory, helping the nation set a new record with five stage wins.

SSV: Heger Keeps Polaris on Top
Polaris continued its stranglehold on the SSV category, thanks to an incredible debut performance by Brock Heger. The American took control from stage 4 after early mechanical issues hampered reigning champion Xavier de Soultrait.
‘Chaleco’ Lopez made a remarkable comeback after early setbacks, securing five stage wins—tied for the most this edition—and finishing second overall. Sara Price emerged as the most successful female driver, securing three stage victories despite a mechanical failure in the gruelling 48 HR Chrono stage.

Trucks: Macik Doubles Up
Czech driver Martin Macik delivered a commanding performance to defend his truck title, capitalising on his rivals’ misfortunes to dominate from stage 3 onwards. His five stage wins equalled Ales Loprais, but it was Macik who reigned supreme.
Dutch youngster Mitchel van den Brink celebrated his 23rd birthday in style, securing second place ahead of Loprais after an intense battle.
Dakar Classic: Santaolalla and Traglio Repeat Their Success
Carlos Santaolalla clinched back-to-back Dakar Classic titles after successfully fending off Lorenzo Traglio in the final navigation test. The Spaniard’s Toyota HDJ 80 became the first vehicle to win twice in the category’s history.
With this thrilling edition wrapped up, the Dakar Rally once again proved why it remains the ultimate test of endurance, resilience, and sheer willpower. Bring on 2026!
