Al-Amn Magazine

SPORT D akar Rally, renowned as the ultimate test of human resilience and mechanical prowess, wrapped up its 48th edition on January 17, in the coastal city of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. What began as a daring adventure from Paris to Dakar in 1978 has evolved into a global spectacle of off-road racing, attracting elite competitors from across the world. The 2026 edition, held entirely within Saudi Arabia for the seventh consecutive year, featured a challenging loop route starting and ending in Yanbu. Spanning from January 3 to 17, the rally covered approximately 7,800 kilometers in total, with over 5,000 kilometers of timed special stages. Participants navigated through vast sand dunes, rocky canyons, and unforgiving desert landscapes, battling extreme temperatures, navigation pitfalls, and mechanical failures. This year’s event was marked by unprecedented drama, including the closest finish in rally history in the bike category and breakthrough victories for new teams in cars. The route was meticulously designed to push limits, incorporating a mix of high-speed tracks, technical sections, and the infamous «Empty Quarter» – one of the largest continuous sand deserts in the world. The prologue on January 3 set the tone in Yanbu, followed by 12 full stages. Key highlights included Stage 6, a grueling 48-hour chrono stage where competitors camped overnight in the desert with limited assistance, and Stage 11, which traversed massive dunes demanding precise navigation. The final Stage 13, a relatively short 138km loop back to Yanbu (105km special, 33km liaison), proved decisive, with competitors racing against the clock in a nail-biting finale. The terrain varied from soft sands that swallowed vehicles to sharp rocks that shredded tires, emphasizing the rally’s reputation for unpredictability. Participation in the 2026 Dakar was robust, with over 700 competitors across multiple categories: bikes, cars, trucks, quads, SSVs (side-by-sides), challengers, and classics. In the bike class, 142 riders started, representing a blend of factory-backed pros and adventurous amateurs. Leading the charge were the dominant teams from Monster Energy Honda and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. Standout participants included two-time winner Ricky Brabec from the USA, aiming for his third title on the Honda CRF450 Rally; Argentina’s Luciano Benavides, riding the KTM 450 Rally Replica and Saga of endurance , drama and h i s tori c v i ctori es The 2026 Dakar Ra l l y conc l udes