| Dates | 3–17 Jan 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Saudi Arabia, Yanbu loop |
| Where it counts | FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) round 1 of 5 |
| Official site | https://www.dakar.com/ |
The most famous rally raid in the world, held in Saudi Arabia since 2020 and the opening round of the W2RC. The 2026 edition ran 13 stages, starting and finishing at Yanbu on the Red Sea and passing through Ha’il and Riyadh (rest day) before turning into the previously unexplored mountain regions of Al-Bahah, Aseer and Jizan in the southwest. The Empty Quarter was not used this year.
In RallyGP, Luciano Benavides (Argentina, Red Bull KTM) won by just two seconds from Ricky Brabec (USA, Honda) after roughly 49 hours of racing — reported as the closest finish in Dakar history. Tosha Schareina (Spain, Honda) was third at +25m12s, including a 10-minute penalty. It was KTM’s 21st Dakar title.
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