Motorsport

The 2026 Formula Regional Oceania Trophy

The 2026 Dakar Rally delivered a hard-edged opening week of desert navigation, marathon bivouacs and shifting leaderboards before competitors finally reached the scheduled rest day in Riyadh on 10 January 2026. The race — run entirely in Saudi Arabia — opened with a short prologue in Yanbu and then moved through a mix of coastal, rocky-plateau and sand-dune terrain in six full stages that set the tone for the second week. Prologue — 3 January, Yanbu (Yanbu → Yanbu)The event began on 3 January with a compact prologue loop around Yanbu that acted as a dress rehearsal: short special stage distances, quick order-setting and the first chance for riders, drivers and crews to test pace notes and navigation under race conditions. The prologue’s main aim was positioning for the opening full stage rather than decisive time gaps. Stage 1 — 4 January, Yanbu → Yanbu (loop)On 4 January the field tackled a much longer loop out of Yanbu. The day combined rocky tracks and faster tracks, forcing competitors to balance aggression with mechanical sympathy. Times stretched out, and strong rides/drives by seasoned Dakar contenders began to separate the favourites from the pack. (Official stage distances listed by organisers: special sections running in the ~300km range for cars and bikes that day.) Stage 2 — 5 January, Yanbu → Al-‘UlaThe rally moved inland on 5 January toward the historic sandstone landscapes of Al-‘Ula. This longer transfer contained lengthy liaison and special sections that tested navigation across mixed surfaces; several crews reported punctures and cautious strategy as they preserved tyres and mechanicals for the marathon pair of stages to follow. Stage 3 — 6 January, Al-‘Ula → Al-‘Ula (loop)A technical day in the Al-‘Ula area on 6 January rewarded precision. In the cars category, stage honours and top times began to bounce among established names — the stage scoreboard showed Mitch Guthrie among the fastest on that special, while other categories (motorbikes, quads, SSVs and trucks) produced their own surprise performers as local dunes and rocky sectors punished small mistakes. Stage 4 (Marathon) — 7 January, Al-‘Ula → Bivouac (Marathon overnight)The first marathon stage — run on 7 January — removed external assistance overnight and forced teams to be self-reliant. Competitors faced long special sections and had to manage repairs themselves in the bivouac: a classic Dakar test that reshuffles rankings through attrition and smart emergency fixes. Henk Lategan and other frontrunners used the day to push for position while preserving their cars for the consecutive marathon day. Stage 5 (Marathon) — 8 January, Bivouac → Ha’il (Marathon day two)Thursday’s marathon conclusion into Ha’il (8 January) continued the self-reliance theme: teams that had repaired cleanly overnight re-emerged to collect time and stage honours. The cumulative effect of the two marathon days created notable leaderboard swings and highlighted the importance of crew skill as much as outright speed. Stage 6 — 9 January, Ha’il → RiyadhThe first week’s finale on 9 January was a pivotal 326km special from Ha’il into Riyadh. Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah claimed the stage win and — crucially — retook the overall lead in the cars category, converting an overnight deficit into a multi-minute advantage heading into the rest day. The bike category also saw drama: penalties and tight margins tightened the leaderboard and set up a tense second week. Rest Day — 10 January, RiyadhAfter six full stages, crews and riders finally enjoyed the scheduled rest day in Riyadh on 10 January — a brief pause for repairs, medical checks and strategy recalibration before the rally resumes into the second half of the route toward Yanbu. Organisers designed the route to give teams a breather at this midpoint while keeping the competitive pressure high. As Dakar shifts into week two, the opening six stages have already produced mechanical casualties, self-repair stories from the marathon bivouac, and a lead change that proves why the rally’s blend of speed, navigation and endurance remains motorsport’s toughest exam.

Formula One2026 season

The Red Bull Racing