Dakar 2026: SA Drivers, Engineers, and Local-Built Cars Ready for 8,000km Challenge

The 48th edition of the Dakar Rally kicks off on January 3 from the Port of Yanbu on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, covering an 8,000-kilometre loop before finishing on January 17. This gruelling annual event, taking place in Saudi Arabia for the seventh consecutive year, will feature not only a strong contingent of South African competitors, but also a significant number of locally designed, built, and prepared race vehicles. Following the completion of the demanding 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC), local teams are now focused on bringing silverware back to South Africa.

Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) Lineup

Two South African drivers will pilot the latest Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) Hilux IMT Evo machines:

• Saood Variawa (20): The newly crowned SA champion will tackle his third Dakar Rally, again partnered with French navigator Francois Cazalet.

• Guy Botterill: The multiple SA Rally Champion, who finished sixth in 2024, makes his third appearance with his 2025 navigator, the Spaniard Oriol Mena.

The wider TGRSA entourage also includes the Argentine team Juan Cruz Yacopini and Daniel Oliveras, and the Portuguese team João Ferreira and Filipe Palmera, alongside Team Principal Shameer Variawa and the service crew.

Chasing the Podium with the DKR GR Hilux

Four-time SARR champion Henk Lategan and five-time SA title-winning navigator Brett Cummings will compete with the Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC team. They will drive the new DKR GR Hilux, engineered by Glynn Hall for Belgium-based partners Overdrive Racing. Lategan/Cummings finished an impressive second in the 2025 edition, a significant improvement on their fifth place in 2023, and are aiming for another solid result in 2026. The W2RC team also features the American duo Seth Quintero and Andrew Short, and Aussie newcomer Toby Price with Spanish navigator Armand Monleón.

Century Racing and WCT Engineering Show Local Strength

Local constructors are well-represented:

• Century Racing: The Midrand-based constructor will have a large presence, with ten starters — eight teams in CR7 vehicles and two teams in CR6 vehicles. The South African pairing of Brian Baragwanath (competing for the eighth time — his sixth in the car category after two quad category entries, including a third-place finish in 2016) and Leonard Cremer will drive the new CR7 4-wheel drive vehicle.

• WCT Engineering: This constructor will support two German drivers in locally built VW Amarok vehicles. Veteran Jürgen Schröder, who debuted as a navigator for Alfie Cox in 2009 (the year Giniel de Villiers won), will have Port Edward bike rider Stuart Gregory reading the notes. His son, Daniel Schröder, will be navigated by the experienced Henry Köhne. (Giniel de Villiers, who holds an unrivalled record of 21 consecutive Dakar Rally finishes since 2003, will not be competing in 2026).

• Red-Lined Motorsport: The Midrand constructor will support two international clients in their Red-Lined REVO T1+ vehicles: Aliyyah Koloc (REVO T1+ GTR) and Macin Pasek and Martin Koloc/Mirko Brun (REVO T1+ V8).

South African Navigators and Emerging Talent

The local flag will also fly high with several navigators and a young driver:

• Leander Pienaar will navigate for Abdullah Al-Fahad in an SSV Class Can-Am Maverick (Al-Fahad's first outing).

• Dennis Murphy will partner with American driver Lawence Janesky in a similar SSV vehicle (Janesky's first outing). Both Murphy and Pienaar have prior Dakar experience.

• Young Stellenbosch driver Puck Klaassen takes on the race for the third time, having completed the Dakar Classic in 2024. For 2026, the Argentine Augusto Sanz will share the cockpit of the GRally Lightweight Prototype with her, replacing Free State bike rider Charan Moore.

And, SARRC-affiliated commentator Matt Smith will be on the world stage for the first time as the daily anchor and stage presenter for the 52-minute worldwide television highlights package, showcasing his in-depth knowledge of two- and four-wheel racing.

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