Dakar Rally Betting Odds and Event Info

Date: 2027.01.03 - 2027.01.17
Contest: Rally Raid
Location: Saudi Arabia


Rally Raid is a form of long distance off road racing, also known as cross country rallying. Events can range from two to three day competitions to endurance tests lasting more than two weeks. The Dakar Rally stands as the pinnacle of rally raid racing, drawing competitors from around the world to tackle some of the harshest terrain on the planet.


Dakar Rally:

The Dakar Rally is organized annually by Amaury Sport Organisation and features competitors across multiple vehicle classes. Covering more than 15,000 kilometres, it is widely regarded as the most demanding off road motorsport event in the world.

The rally is split into daily stages, often spanning 850 to 950 kilometres, where navigation, endurance, and mechanical reliability are tested as much as outright speed.


2026 Winners:

The Dakar Rally crowned champions in its headline categories following two demanding weeks of competition across the Saudi Arabian desert.

Ultimate (Cars)

Nasser Al Attiyah
Car: Dacia Sandrider
Co Driver: Fabian Lurquin

Nasser Al Attiyah claimed his sixth Dakar Rally victory with a controlled and strategic drive in the Ultimate category. Partnered by co driver Fabian Lurquin, Al Attiyah established a decisive advantage in the latter stages of the rally and successfully defended his lead through the final days, once again proving his mastery of rally raid competition.

Motorbikes

Luciano Benavides

The motorcycle category produced one of the closest finishes in Dakar history, with Luciano Benavides emerging victorious after an intense battle decided by just seconds. His consistency across the stages and composure under pressure secured a memorable overall win in the bikes class.


Status:

The Dakar Rally serves as the season opening event of the World Rally Raid Championship and is sanctioned by both the FIA and the FIM.


History:

First run in 1979, the original Dakar Rally stretched from Paris to Dakar, pushing competitors across Europe and Africa. The event quickly grew into the largest and most prestigious off road rally in the world, attracting factory teams and privateers alike.


Naming:

The rally takes its name from its original finish line in Dakar, Senegal, which defined the spirit and identity of the event during its formative years.


Venues:

From 1979 to 2007, the rally followed the Paris to Dakar route. Security concerns later prompted a move to South America, where the event was staged from 2009 to 2019.

Since 2020, Saudi Arabia has hosted the Dakar Rally, offering vast deserts, dunes, and extreme terrain ideally suited to rally raid competition.


Dakar Rally Classes - Categories and Overview:

The Dakar Rally features multiple competition classes, each designed to test different vehicle concepts and engineering approaches.


Motorbikes

Motorcycles compete under strict engine and design regulations. Manufacturers such as KTM, Honda, Yamaha, Sherco, Husqvarna, and Gas Gas have all played major roles, with KTM dominating the modern era.


Quads

Introduced as a standalone category in 2009, quads have seen sustained success from Yamaha, with Honda and Can Am providing regular competition.


Cars

The car category includes vehicles under 3,500 kg and multiple technical subclasses. Mitsubishi remains the most successful manufacturer historically, while Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, Peugeot, and others have all claimed victories.


Trucks

Vehicles exceeding 3,500 kg compete in the truck category. Kamaz has dominated this class since 2000, with Iveco, MAN, Renault, Tatra, and Mercedes Benz also featuring among past winners.


UTVs

The UTV category was introduced in 2017 and is divided into T3 light prototypes and T4 SSVs, rapidly becoming one of the most competitive divisions.


Dakar Classics

Launched in 2021, Dakar Classics showcases vehicles built before the year 2000 or constructed to period specifications, celebrating the heritage of the rally.

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