Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, a celebrated rally driver and Olympic medalist, is gearing up to compete in the 2026 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. This marks his second consecutive season with the Dacia Sandriders team, and he will be navigating with Belgian Fabian Lurquin. The grueling off-road race, scheduled for January 3-17, will see Al Attiyah aiming for a record-breaking sixth title, continuing his pursuit of surpassing Stéphane Peterhansel’s eight victories.
The 48th edition of the Dakar Rally will begin and end in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, and will also serve as the opening round of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Al Attiyah, 55, remains a formidable competitor despite not securing a win in the last two Dakar events, demonstrating his enduring ambition in the motorsport world.
Nasser Al Attiyah’s Pursuit of Dakar Dominance
Al Attiyah’s long-term goal is to become the most successful driver in Dakar history. He previously achieved victory in 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, and most recently in 2023, solidifying his place among rally-raid legends. He believes a change in navigators to the experienced Fabian Lurquin will be a key factor in his 2026 campaign.
The Qatari driver acknowledges a setback in the previous year’s rally, stating that a single difficult day cost him the overall lead. He finished fourth overall in the 2025 race. However, he remains optimistic about his chances with the Dacia Sandriders, citing the team’s strength and his confidence in Lurquin’s expertise, particularly his familiarity with the Saudi Arabian terrain.
Dacia Sandriders Team Lineup
Dacia will field a four-car team at the 2026 Dakar Rally. Alongside Al Attiyah and Lurquin, the lineup includes Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon, Sébastien Loeb and Edouard Boulanger, and Cristina Gutierrez with Pablo Moreno. This demonstrates Dacia’s commitment to competing at the highest level of rally-raid racing.
The team’s participation is part of a broader strategy to establish Dacia as a competitive force in the W2RC. The off-road racing event provides a challenging platform to showcase the durability and performance of their vehicles.
Meanwhile, defending Dakar champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi of Saudi Arabia is also preparing to compete, recovering from injuries sustained during the Jordan Baja in April. His participation adds another layer of competition to the event, as he aims to defend his title on home soil.
The 2026 Dakar Rally will feature 71 crews eligible to score points in the W2RC, out of a total of 159 entries, according to the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). This highlights the increasing importance of the Dakar Rally within the broader context of international rally-raid championships.
Al Attiyah has praised the Saudi Arabian landscapes as ideal for the Dakar, noting the challenging and visually stunning routes. He anticipates a “truly fantastic” course designed by the ASO, further enhancing the event’s appeal to both competitors and spectators.
Looking ahead, the success of Al Attiyah and the Dacia Sandriders will depend on consistent performance and effective navigation throughout the two-week rally. The unpredictable nature of the desert rally means that mechanical issues, navigational errors, and changing weather conditions could all play a significant role in determining the final outcome. The performance of other top contenders, including Al-Rajhi and Loeb, will also be closely watched as the event unfolds.
