Yazeed Al Rajhi and co-driver Timo Gottschalk etched their names into the history books by securing a thrilling victory at the 2025 Dakar Rally, becoming the first Saudi Arabian driver to claim the prestigious title. The Toyota Hilux duo emerged victorious after an epic battle, clinching the crown with a nail-biting margin of just 3m57s over Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings of Toyota Gazoo Racing.
This victory marks not only a personal triumph for Al Rajhi but also one of the closest finishes in Dakar history, reaffirming the event’s legendary status as motorsport’s ultimate endurance challenge.
A strategic masterclass
Al Rajhi and Gottschalk played the long game with precision, staying within striking distance of the leaders throughout the grueling two-week event. After tactically relinquishing the overall lead on stage 10, they timed their final surge perfectly, reclaiming the top spot on the penultimate day and holding off a hard-charging Lategan in the final 61km stage.
The Saudi duo’s clean run was a testament to their skill, strategy, and resilience. They avoided the mechanical setbacks and navigational errors that plagued many of the rally’s top contenders, proving that a calculated approach can prevail in the world’s toughest race.
A fierce battle for Toyota dominance
The 2025 Dakar Rally was dominated by Toyota’s fleet of high-performance Hilux vehicles. While Lategan led the majority of the race with a commanding pace, his lack of experience in the punishing dunes—where Al Rajhi thrives—ultimately tipped the scales. Despite a valiant effort on the final day, the South African finished just shy of victory, settling for second place in one of the most competitive Dakars in recent memory.
The event also highlighted Toyota’s overwhelming strength, with factory and quasi-privateer entries securing multiple stage wins. Rising stars like Saood Variawa, who became the youngest stage winner in Ultimate class history, underscored the team’s depth of talent.
Newcomers and heartbreaks
The 2025 edition wasn’t just about Toyota. New factory efforts from Dacia Sandriders and M-Sport Ford Performance added intrigue and fresh competition. Five-time winner Nasser Al-Attiyah led the charge for Dacia, securing the team’s maiden stage win and showcasing its potential as a future powerhouse. However, Al-Attiyah’s hopes were dashed after a navigation error and punctures in the final stages.
M-Sport’s campaign, led by former champions Carlos Sainz and Nani Roma, faced even harsher setbacks. Sainz’s dramatic rollover on the second stage and Roma’s engine failure were blows to the team’s ambitions, leaving Mattias Ekström and Mitch Guthrie Jr. to salvage pride with strong performances in the second week. Guthrie Jr., a standout performer, finished fifth overall and gave M-Sport hope for future rallies.
Drama and controversy
The 2025 Dakar wasn’t short on drama. Sebastien Loeb, part of Dacia’s formidable lineup, suffered a high-speed roll during the third stage, abruptly ending his campaign. Meanwhile, a technical controversy denied Dacia a second stage win, with Al-Attiyah and co-driver Edouard Boulanger disqualified for missing a spare wheel that had detached mid-stage.
These setbacks only amplified the significance of Al Rajhi’s clean and calculated run, which stood in stark contrast to the chaos around him.
What’s next for Dakar and the World Rally-Raid Championship?
The tight competition and emergence of new contenders bode well for the future of rally-raid racing. Toyota’s dominance may face growing challenges from the likes of Dacia and M-Sport, both of which demonstrated the potential for further breakthroughs in the World Rally-Raid Championship season.
As the dust settles on the Empty Quarter’s dunes, Al Rajhi’s historic win serves as a reminder that strategy, resilience, and grit are as important as outright speed in conquering the Dakar.
