Yazeed Al-Rajhi outgunned factory Toyota rival Henk Lategan in a customer Hilux to claim an against-the-odds victory in the Dakar Rally. With newcomers Ford and Dacia still finding their feet in cross-country rallying and last year’s winner Audi having pulled out of the competition,

Ford secured its second straight stage win at the Dakar Rally on Thursday, with Mattias Ekstrom following up Nani Roma’s Stage 10 win by besting Nasser Al-Attiyah — his rival for the

Yazeed al-Rajhi made history on Friday by becoming the first driver from host nation Saudi Arabia to win the Dakar Rally.

Yazeed al-Rajhi made history on Friday by becoming the first driver from host nation Saudi Arabia to win the Dakar Rally. The Overdrive pilot held onto his overnight lead to beat South Africa's Henk Lategan in a Toyota by 3min 57sec with Mattias Ekstrom of Sweden third in his Ford,

SHUBAYTAH, SAUDI ARABIA (Reuters) -Local hero Yazeed Al-Rajhi secured his first Dakar title on Friday, finishing the 12-stage rally almost four minutes ahead of his closest competitor Henk Lategan, while Red Bull KTM's Daniel Sanders maintained his lead to win in the motorcycle category.

Yazeed Al-Rajhi has become the first Saudi to win the Dakar Rally after completing the race on home sand in Shubaytah.

Yazeed al-Rajhi made history on Friday by becoming the first driver from host nation Saudi Arabia to win the Dakar Rally.Saudi Arabia have hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020, when it moved from South America.

Yazeed Al Rajhi is the first Saudi driver to win the Dakar in the Ultimate class. The title is his first in 11 Dakars. His previous best was third in 2022. Al Rajhi beat South Africa’s Henk Lategan by 3min 57sec with Mattias Ekstrom of Sweden finishing third.