Record-setting driver and co-driver Timo Gottschalk aim for rally-raid supremacy as 7,994-km challenge unfolds across Saudi terrain.
YANBU — Saudi motorsport history will again be in the making as Yazeed Al-Rajhi, the first Saudi to win the Dakar Rally’s elite Ultimate car class, begins his title defense Friday when the 2026 edition flags off from Yanbu.
Fresh off his landmark 2025 victory, Al-Rajhi enters the 7,994-kilometer challenge with a dual mission: retain his Dakar crown and clinch the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), a title that has narrowly escaped him three times since 2022.
“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.”
His co-driver, Timo Gottschalk, emphasized the meticulous preparation behind their Overdrive Toyota Hilux entry: “Our synergy is at its best. We are ready to manage the rally stage by stage, intending to fight for victory from day one.”
This year’s route—spanning 13 competitive stages plus a prologue—will test crews with 4,840 km of timed racing, seven loop stages, and two punishing marathon stages without direct team support. The rally, which runs until January 17, also includes a rest day in Riyadh before concluding back in Yanbu.
Al-Rajhi credits partner Jameel Motorsport as a “key pillar” of his success and views his campaign as a platform to reflect “the name of Saudi Arabia and match our global ambitions.”
As the Dakar again opens the W2RC calendar, Al-Rajhi’s bid for a historic double begins on home soil—a desert proving ground where focus, preparation, and a champion’s mindset will define the journey ahead.
