Dakar Classic 2026 : The time for the next generation

December 16 ^th 2025 - 16:19 [GMT + 3]

• The 6ᵗʰ edition of the Dakar Classic sees Carlos Santaollala, the dominant figure of the past two editions, leaving the regularity tracks in 2026 to try the Dakar itself.
• The Spaniard opens the door to the legitimate ambitions of his Italian rivals Lorenzo Tragli and Paolo Bedeschi, both twice on the final podium of the last three editions, and also to the only former winner entered, Juan Morera, his compatriot who won before him.
• Among the 97 vehicles entered, 75 are cars and 22 are trucks. The 211 competitors, including 18 women, represent 26 nationalities.

Carlos Santaollala has left the imprint of his Toyota HDJ 80 in the Saudi sand like no other so far in the Dakar Classic. Arriving in 2022, he finished 7ᵗʰ, surrendering the following year to Juan Morera who, equipped with the same car, then chose to try the adventure in a Porsche. Two years of domination by the Santaollala–Rosa duo followed, marking a streak of four for the Toyota HDJ 80 after the victory of the French duo Mogno–Droulhon in 2022.

For 2026, Santaollala has decided to jump into the deep end of the Dakar in the SSV category, with his navigator doing the same in Challenger. This departure, after 15 stage victories, sharpens the appetite of two Italian Tecnosport crews who have been struggling against the Spaniard since their debut. Lorenzo Traglio (#701), heir to the team founded by his father, has been his runner-up since 2024. Paolo Bedeschi (#709), who also arrived in 2023, finishing 3ʳᵈ twice in a row, skipped 2025 to better prepare his 3ʳᵈ participation with a new vehicle. A “80”, in turn.

This is the opposite choice made by Juan Morera and his wife Lidia Ruba after their 2023 victory, leaving their Toyota to build a Porsche 911 type 959 replica. Sixth on their first attempt, the couple chose to retire last year after a technical incident. Morera–Ruba (#702) return to take revenge for the 3ʳᵈ consecutive year. As a sign of their determination, their car’s preparer Jérémy Athimon is entered for the first time on track in an assistance truck (#921) to counter the 2025 scenario.                         

They are not the only ones hoping to end the Japanese domination and bring back a “non Toyota” victory like the Sunhill Buggy of the first edition. Similarly, the French duo Gublin–Sousa (#728), who dream of taking their Land Rover to the top, have built themselves into a fully autonomous team. Revelations of the 3rd edition, where they occupied the overall podium until the final moments of the race, mechanical issues decided otherwise, pushing them to 5ᵗʰ place. Last year, the story repeated itself.

Bolides Racing Team is now an independent team with a pick-up and an assistance truck entered in the race, plus two trucks in the bivouac. These performances may make people too quickly forget the consistency of Mitsubishi, a legendary brand on the Dakar. Three of them were in the Top 10 in 2025, including the Pajero of Marco Leva and his partner Alexia Giugni (#705), 5ᵗʰ last year after finishing 7ᵗʰ in 2024. The couple return for their 4ᵗʰ participation.

Having become a land of specialists for those at the top of the classification sheets, the Dakar Classic remains a fabulous entry point to join the Dakar caravan. Once again this year, the “Classic” will be a discovery for many competitors, such as the Campos brothers (#771). These two French rookies are competing in rally-raid for the first time in their lives, in a Renault R 18 they restored themselves, carrying a tent, parts, tools, doubts, and the hope of reaching “half an hour, two days or maybe the finish”.

A completely autonomous initiation reminiscent of the Marreau brothers, which will revive memories for another competitor in assistance truck number 909. Reynald Privé was at the start of the first Paris-Dakar at the end of 1978 in his father’s Range Rover. Jacky Privé was the winner of the first Abidjan–Nice, in which Thierry Sabine took part three years earlier. Reynald was 19. Despite around fifteen Dakars to his name, he will experience his first Dakar Classic.

An entry point for some, a springboard for others, or a time machine, the 6th edition of the Dakar Classic will once again be anything but classic.