Defending Champion Al-Rajhi Eyes Dakar-W2RC Double as 2026 Rally Roars from Yanbu

Saudi rally star targets historic title defense in world’s toughest race, with one eye on maiden World Rally-Raid Championship crown.

YANBU — As the Dakar Rally 2026 revs into life from Yanbu on January 3, all eyes are on Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi, who returns not just to compete but to defend his historic title.

Fresh from becoming the first Saudi driver to win the Dakar’s premier Ultimate car category in 2025, Al-Rajhi enters the 2026 edition with what he describes as a “winning mindset” and a clear twin objective: retain his Dakar crown and finally secure the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) title that has narrowly eluded him.

“Winning the title was a historic moment, but the real challenge now is defending it,” said Al-Rajhi. “Our objective from the start is clear: to fight for victory and secure a strong opening to the W2RC season.”

The 2026 route promises a brutal test, spanning 7,994 km with 4,840 km of timed special stages across Saudi Arabia’s deserts, mountains, and canyons. The two-week ordeal features 13 competitive stages, including two demanding marathon stages where crews must service their own vehicles, amplifying the physical and strategic challenge.

Al-Rajhi and his experienced German co-driver, Timo Gottschalk, will pilot the Overdrive Toyota Hilux, a vehicle perfected through what Gottschalk calls “intense and extremely precise” preparation. “Our synergy is at its best,” Gottschalk added. “We are ready to manage the rally stage by stage.”

Beyond personal glory, Al-Rajhi sees his campaign as a matter of national pride. “We enter Dakar with a winning mindset, aiming to deliver a complete season that reflects the name of Saudi Arabia and matches our global ambitions,” he stated, acknowledging the crucial support of partner Jameel Motorsport.

With the Dakar serving as the opening round of the 2026 W2RC, Al-Rajhi’s quest for a golden double begins on the sands of Yanbu, where the rally will also conclude on January 17 after a relentless loop through the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.