Defending Dakar Champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi Faces Catastrophe in Opening Stage!
In a shocking twist at the 2026 Dakar Rally, reigning champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi finds himself in a precarious position following a disastrous opening stage that could threaten his title defense. The Saudi driver, alongside his navigator Timo Gottschalk, has suffered a harrowing start, losing crucial time and incurring a significant penalty.
After his triumphant victory in 2025, Al-Rajhi’s journey took a turn for the worse when both he and Gottschalk sustained injuries that forced them to sit out several rounds of the World Rally-Raid Championship. Their limited preparation—only managing to participate in a few lackluster warm-up events—left them ill-prepared for the rigors of the Dakar Rally.
Initially, there was hope as Al-Rajhi showcased impressive speed in the prologue, securing sixth place. However, the first competitive stage proved to be a nightmare, with Al-Rajhi finishing a staggering 39th out of the 305 km test in Yanbu, losing nearly 29 minutes to the stage victor, Guillaume de Mevius of X-raid Mini.
The majority of that time loss stemmed from a crippling 16-minute penalty due to crucial missteps: missing a waypoint and a speeding infringement. “At a tricky section with many canyons, we chose the wrong one, even though Timo had the right feeling,” Al-Rajhi confessed. “We decided to try it anyway. Thanks to the dust from other competitors, we managed to find the correct route again, but it was too late. Not an ideal start to the Dakar Rally and a big time loss.”
But the woes didn’t end there. Navigator Gottschalk revealed that the duo faced early challenges, stating, “We already had two punctures early on, before taking the wrong canyon at a difficult point.” This disastrous navigation ultimately led to the missed waypoint, sealing their fate with a penalty. “Although we were back on the correct route quite quickly, we unfortunately validated the next waypoint and therefore received the penalty. Not a good start, but there is still a lot of terrain ahead of us and we certainly won’t give up. We will try to recover as much ground as possible over the next 12 stages,” he vowed.
As they brace for the next challenge, Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk will have their first shot at redemption on Monday. The second stage spans 400 kilometers, running from Yanbu to the stunning Al-‘Ula, and it’s a critical moment for the duo to reclaim their momentum in this grueling rally.
The world watches closely as Al-Rajhi battles against the odds to salvage his title hopes and demonstrate that true champions never back down from adversity. The race is far from over, and the Dakar Rally is notorious for its twists and turns—both on and off the track. Will Al-Rajhi rise from the ashes of this early setback, or has the defending champion’s reign come to an untimely end? Only time will tell!








