Two full weeks of action. Over 400 vehicles entered. 8000km of flat out racing across some of the most unforgiving territory known to mankind. And I was there! An invite from Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa ensured that I would get to spend the final two days of Dakar 2026 with the team in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.
Our first stop on day one of the trip was a long drive out into the desert where we would set up camp at a spectator point to witness stage 12 of the race. The heat relentless and it wasnt even midday yet. Loaded up with as much water as we could carry, we headed out on foot to find the best vantage place to see the action.
Fighting machine and fatigueOne moment the desert was silent, and the next it started to come alive as the first motorbike came winding through the canyons and right past us. We had found a good spot with some rocks for protection and the tiniest bit of shade under an acacia thorn tree.
