The upcoming Dakar Rally, one of the world’s most grueling motorsport events, is already facing challenges before the first vehicle crosses the starting line. Several teams are adjusting their lineups due to injury and personnel changes, impacting competition in the T1+ class. This year’s race, set to begin in Saudi Arabia, will feature a mix of private and factory teams vying for the top spot amidst a backdrop of logistical complexity and inherent risk.
All coverage of the Dakar Rally can be found here.
A key driver for the Gurtam Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics team, Benediktas Vanagas, will have a new navigator for the upcoming Dakar Rally. Estonian navigator Kuldar Sikkas will be replaced by Lithuanian Aisvydas Paliukėnas. This marks Vanagas’s first time competing with a Lithuanian navigator in 13 years; his previous Lithuanian co-driver was Saulius Jurgelėnas in 2013.
In a remarkable display of resilience, legendary navigator Mathieu Baumel will also return to the Dakar Rally despite a severe leg injury sustained during the Monte Carlo Rally. Baumel lost his leg in the accident and will compete with a vehicle adapted to accommodate a prosthetic limb.
Champion Hospitalized
Competition in the highly challenging T1+ class is expected to be fierce, with participation from both private teams – including Yazeed Al Rajhi and Benediktas Vanagas – and factory teams such as Dacia, Ford, and Toyota. However, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa has suffered a setback with Argentinian driver Juan Cruz Yacopini being hospitalized following an accident, ruling him out of the race. He was assigned start number 211.
