The seventh edition of the Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026, the world's premier motorsport event, kicked off today, Saturday, January 3, 2026, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the seventh consecutive year. This impressive organization, overseen by the Ministry of Sport and organized by the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, reaffirms the Kingdom's position as a major global destination for sporting events.
An exciting start in Yanbu and a test of readiness
Yanbu, the Bride of the Red Sea, witnessed the launch of the preliminary stage (prologue) with a total distance of 95 kilometers, including a 22-kilometer timed special stage. This short stage strategically aims to test the readiness of the vehicles and competitors and determine the starting order for the upcoming longer stages, amidst a massive participation of 787 drivers and navigators.
Historical context and strategic importance
Since the Dakar Rally moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020, marking its third iteration after Africa and South America, the Kingdom's deserts have become the stage for some of the fiercest and most diverse competitions. This event holds significant importance beyond its sporting dimension, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to bolster the tourism and sports sectors and highlight the Kingdom's unique geographical diversity, from the stunning Red Sea coastline to the golden dunes of the Empty Quarter.
Details of the preliminary stage results
The preliminary stage results showed fierce competition across all categories, and the results were as follows:
Car category
Swede Mattias Ekström , driving for Ford Racing, topped the standings with a time of 10 minutes, 48 seconds, and 7 tenths of a second. American Mitch Guthrie Jr. finished second, 8 seconds behind, while Belgian Guillaume de Mevius came in third, also 8 seconds behind.
"Stock" car category
The Defender Rally team dominated the top three positions, with American Sarah Price first place, followed by French legend Stephane Peterhansel, and then Lithuanian Rokas Paczewska.
Motorcycle category
Spaniard Edgar Canet (Red Bull KTM) shone, achieving first place, ahead of his Australian teammate Daniel Sanders by 3 seconds, while American Ricky Brake came in third.
Challenger category and Saudi brilliance
In the desert vehicle category, "Challenger", Dutchman Paul Spierings center stage, while Saudi champion Dania Aqeel a remarkable appearance by securing third place, just 13 seconds behind the leader, reflecting the development of Saudi skills in this global event.
Truck and SSV categories
In the truck category, Dutchman Mitchell van den Brink the lead, while in the "SSV" category, the first place went to American Brock Heger .
What awaits us tomorrow?
All eyes will be on the first official stage tomorrow, Sunday, January 4, 2026, a circuit stage starting and finishing in Yanbu. Competitors will face a real challenge with a total distance of 518 kilometers, including a 305-kilometer timed special stage, where the true competitive spirit will begin to emerge with the varied terrain and difficult navigation.
