The Dakar Classic dances the Java
Dakar 2026 |
Stage 11 |
BISHA
> AL HENAKIYAH
January 15
th
2026
- 21:02
[GMT + 3]
Two Indonesian crews are participating in the Dakar Classic for the first time. They have made especially convincing debuts because Shammie Baridwan, who is 5th in the overall rankings, won the day’s stage in Al Henakiyah, while the friend he has known for 20 years, influencer Julian “Jejelogy” Johan, is immediately behind him in 6th place in the race hierarchy.
Even if you search through the archives thoroughly, there is no trace of an Indonesian driver in the history of the Dakar. That is not to say there is not an off-road culture in Java or Bali: when the names of Stéphane Peterhansel or Carlos Sainz ring out, the ears of motorsports enthusiasts prick up, and even if there are fewer of them than badminton fans in a country with a population of 285 million, the motorsport community still carries a lot of weight! However, their means of access to the main rally-raid events were not the easiest until the Dakar Classic opened up new possibilities. The Compagnie Saharienne, which offers a turnkey solution for entering the race for consistency, has offered this opportunity to two Indonesian drivers who are making spectacular debuts this year: “We have seen a genuine demand in Asian countries, where drivers are fans of the Dakar but don’t know how to go about enrolling,” explain in unison the father and son duo of Arnaud and Lucas Delmas-Marsalet. “And we’re able to provide them with ultra robust Toyotas, friendly and experienced co-pilots, plus a week-long training course in Morocco, either with Mathieu Baumel or François Cazalet, like the session held last September”. The formula won over Shammie Baridwan and Julian Johan, who are both experiencing their baptism of fire in their vehicles on the Dakar Classic.
The two debutant crews not only stand out in the bivouac due to their exotic origins, but they are also robust competitors on the tracks, able to tackle consistency and navigation challenges day after day. Julian, a renowned influencer and the son of a former WRC driver in the 1990s, competed in races in his region before discovering the Dakar and is giving a decent justification of his skills since the start in Yanbu: “It’s the ultimate adventure for me, like for anybody. Being on the starting podium was already an accomplishment. The first stages were like a dream come true. It’s the first time that I’ve competed in a race for consistency and it’s not as simple as it seems but I’m trying to learn more every day”. As for his old travelling companion Shammie, he has made nothing short of a spectacular entrance on the rally scene thanks to winning stage 11, in front of the leading specialists, almost in spite of himself: “We had some little problems finding waypoints but afterwards we pushed very hard. I’m very surprised to win in such conditions but I hope I’ll be able to repeat the feat tomorrow! I’m delighted with the result. I always try to do my best, I’m learning every day and I put it into practice the following day”.
On their arrival at the bivouac in Al Henakiyah, a prestigious welcoming committee awaited them, because Mathieu Baumel himself dropped by to congratulate the day’s winners. The event is a source of pride for Shammie Baridwan, but also for Julian Jehan, who is delighted with his friend's success: “We’ve known each other since junior high school, for around twenty years. We’ve been on lots of road trips, have been camping and have taken part in races together, so when I saw him win today, of course I’m super happy and very proud of him”. As for Shammie, he does not hesitate to suggest the success of a true partnership: “I won today but it was JJ who brought me here and our main goal is first and foremost to reach the finish of the Dakar Classic together. We are in two different crews but we form a single team, for Indonesia”.
