When the Dakar Rally gets underway in Yanbu on Jan. 3, it will be the seventh time the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has hosted this legendary event. As the opening round of the FIA-FIM Rally-Raid World Championship (W2RC), the rally will unfold through stages across nature, following a new route from the Red Sea coast across the desert plains of Saudi Arabia will test competitors to the limit. With over 400 vehicles taking part across several categories, here is our guide to each discipline and the drivers and riders to look out for across the two-week competition.
Cars T1 (Ultimate)
All eyes will be on the top category of Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia, as the T1 Ultimate class contends for overall victory in the annual event. As the first Saudi champion of the Dakar on home soil, Yazeed Al-Rajhi (pictured below) will be defending his title for Toyota but is still recovering from the injuries he suffered in a crash last year.
Of the 73 high-performance cross-country vehicles, including prototypes with 4×4 or 4×2 drive, one of the favorites for victory will be Ford’s V8-powered Raptor T1+ with former winner Carlos Sainz vying for success alongside teammate Mattias Ekstrom. The other star-laden team is Dacia Sandriders, led by five-time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah, with Sébastien Loeb also in contention for victory.
T2 (Stock)
There is excitement in the T2 (Stock) category, as regulations for the production-based cars have allowed a number of performance-enhancing tweaks. As a result, British manufacturer Land Rover will enter three Defenders in the 2026 Dakar, led by 14-time winner Stephane Peterhansel.
Lightweight Prototypes (Challenger – T3)
The T3 Challenger class (pictured, top) is for lightweight prototype vehicles specifically designed for off-road racing. Of the 38 starting in Yanbu, much of the attention will be on Saudi Arabia’s Dania Akeel, who has shown blistering speed in the build-up to this year’s event. She finished third overall in the FIA Rally-Raid World Championship last year and claimed victory in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. She also scored a stage win on the Dakar last year and will be one to watch this January.
Side-by-Side Vehicles (SSV – T4)
Among the 43 SSVs (pictured below) –near-production side-by-side vehicles with modifications tailored for rally conditions – keep a look out for Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez Contardo. As a two-decade veteran of the Dakar, the Chilean was a constant headline act during the event’s South American era. He returns to the dunes aiming for further success at the wheel of Can-Am’s Maverick R.
Motorcycles
There are 118 FIM entries in the bike category, which is split into three divisions: RallyGP for professional riders and factory teams; Rally2 for privateers and semi-professional participants; and Original by Motul, for riders competing without technical support while handling their own maintenance and repairs. For overall honors, it would be hard to bet against Australian Daniel Sanders. After an impressive debut as best rookie in 2024, he dominated the event from start to finish last year, and “Chucky” is expected to thrive again with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.
Trucks (T5)
This category is split into two classes, T5.1 for competition trucks, both prototype and production-based, modified for the race; and T5.2 for assistance trucks providing logistical and mechanical support during the rally. Heading into the Saudi dunes, only two truck drivers have won three consecutive editions of the Dakar Rally, and Czech driver Martin Macík is chasing that hat-trick in 2026.
Classic (Special Category)
The sixth edition of the Dakar Classic will feature a total of 97 historic vehicles (75 cars and 22 trucks). Eligible entries include cars and trucks from the 1980s and ’90s, as well as vehicles registered up to 2005. This category uses a regularity rally format, focusing on consistency rather than outright speed, and will be run over a new total distance of 4,292 km (2.667 miles). The 211 competitors – including 18 women – represent 26 nationalities.
Mission 1000 (special category)
Finally, there is once again a special category – returning for a third year – for vehicles using alternative or zero-emission propulsion systems, showcasing innovative technology. The field will consist of seven fully electric motorbikes and one hybrid truck running on hydrogen and biodiesel. They will compete over 13 stages of around 100 km each, for a total of 1,071 km of special stages.
Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 will see new vehicles joining the iconic endurance rally for the first time. Among the standout models is the Defender Dakar D7X-R, competing in the Stock category and piloted by elite names such as Stephane Peterhansel, Rokas Baciuska and Sara Price.
The Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 will take place from Jan. 3-17, spanning 14 race days and featuring a Prologue followed by 13 competitive stages. The seventh edition hosted in Saudi Arabia brings together more than 800 competitors representing 69 nationalities, competing across 431 vehicles in multiple categories. The field includes 73 Ultimate cars, 46 trucks, 118 motorbikes, 8 Stock vehicles, 38 Challengers, 43 Side-by-Side vehicles, 75 Classic cars, 22 Classic trucks, and seven Mission 1000 motorcycles, in addition to one truck, underlining the rally’s international reach and competitive diversity.
