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Issue #8:January 11, 2026
On January 10, the 2026 Dakar Rally reached Rest Day in Riyadh, the capital in central Saudi Arabia.
No competition was held today, and mechanics conducted intensive inspections and maintenance in preparation for the second half of the rally. In the Stock class, TLC faced issues during the stage on January 9. Car #503 with Ronald Basso and Julien Menard experienced steering‑system trouble, while car #501 with Akira Miura and Jean‑Michel Polato suffered damage to its cooling system components after a ground impact. When the two cars arrived at the bivouac in succession just after 9:00 p.m., the mechanics who had been waiting immediately began their checks.
Most years, maintenance work on Rest Day is wrapped up by evening. However, with this being the first year for the new cars, there were many areas requiring repair, and work wasn’t completed until the early hours of the 11th. Both rally cars have now been fully refreshed and are in top shape, ready to take on the second half of the Dakar.
This year’s route forms a huge loop around Saudi Arabia, starting from the coastal city of Yanbu on the Red Sea and circling clockwise. The first half through the mountains in the north featured many stages with rough terrain, including stoney wadis (dry riverbeds) and bumpy sections with rocks. In the second half, the rally descends into the southern desert region, where some serious dune stages will make an appearance. Difficulty is expected to ramp up around the rally’s second Marathon Stage, which will be held between Wadi ad-Dawasir and Bisha from January 13 to 14.
Stage 7 on January 11 will be the first day of the second half. Competitors will head southeast from Riyadh, with 459 km of competition planned before reaching the outskirts of Wadi ad-Dawasir.
Kakutani (Team Manager): The mechanics worked all night to bring the rally cars up to perfect condition. The current situation has us allowing our rivals to lead, but now the Land Cruisers are like new again. You can feel the determination of the mechanics and their will to push on and make a comeback!
Challoy (Chief Mechanic): Taking on the rally with the new cars has turned out to be tougher than we expected. The mechanics have been working through to morning day after day, and the fatigue hasn’t lifted. That said, with the cars fully prepared on Rest Day, I want the crews to give it everything they’ve got in the second half.
Sonda (Mechanic): This year we’ve had many damaged parts, and we’re working until morning almost every day. The second half of the rally starts tomorrow, and I’ll be doing my best to stay fully focused. This is my second year assigned to the Dakar Rally. Communication with Pedro, who I work with on car #501, has been smooth. And little by little, I’ve been building rapport with Leo as well.
Motono (Mechanic): The first half felt long yet short. We’ve spent so many hours working that we haven’t been able to get much sleep; it’s been physically tough. In the second half of the rally, I’ll try to work faster and take care of my physical condition. While working to keep communication clear with the French mechanics Jerome and Lucas, I’m able to collaborate more closely now.