Back to Dakar

Following on from his debut on the 2025 Dakar Rally where he finished as top British competitor, North Yorkshire off-road motorcycle racer Robbie Wallace is planning on returning to the Saudi Arabian event which takes place in January 2026.

The 28-year-old electrical engineer from Northallerton overcame a number of setbacks on his first attempt at what is termed the ‘the toughest rally in the world’, to reach the finish in 84^th overall, 74^th in the Rally2 class and 21^st Rookie after covering a total distance of nearly 7,500km (4,700 miles), mainly in the desert.

Now armed with the experience of doing the famous event and coupled with some impressive performances which had him inside the top 35 competitors on some of the stages, Robbie is planning to return with a view to improving on his result, whilst at the same time concentrating on raising the budget of around £50,000 to cover the cost of the two-week event.

Robbie said: “After some careful consideration I have decided to make an attempt at Dakar 2026 in Saudi Arabia. This time last year I was yet to qualify for the event, and it was still just a dream.

Fortunately, with the help of sponsors and kind donations from others, we were able to get ourselves onto the grid for Dakar. It consumed my life for many months, but it was all worth it for the two weeks in the desert. The highs and the lows, the friends made, the experiences, the lessons and the challenges to overcome were all what made for an unforgettable time.

I am hoping once again I am able to raise the funds required to return and be on that start line. It’s no easy task but I feel there is some unfinished business having missed out on a couple of the stages due to my big crash. I’m heading there with the intention of a top 30 finish and to get that gold finisher’s medal which I missed out on last year. I believe I’m capable of a result like that, but of course, I need things to go my way and not encounter too many issues.

This year, with the experience gained, I will approach it with a different mindset, as last year I was heading into the unknown in some regards, leaving questions for me that could only be answered once I was there. This journey isn’t an easy one, but it is certainly one which will be made easier if I get the fantastic support I enjoyed last year. I’m looking forward to taking everyone through my quest once again to get to Dakar. Training has already started so let’s get to it!”

The 2026 event is set to run from 3^rd to 17^th January and will be even longer and tougher than 2025, totalling around 8,000 kilometres, including 5,000 kilometres of timed sections.

The Red Sea port city of Yanbu will host both the start and finish, with six more bivouacs set up in the heart of the desert and in the capital Riyadh, where the city will host the rest day. Four loops of stages are scheduled along the way, ensuring that the challenge remains every bit as punishing in terms of distance and varied terrains for riders. The 48^th edition will feature two ‘marathon-refuge’ stages in which competitors are allowed no assistance riders will be camped in tents for two days with very limited rations. The 2026 route will also see the return of separate courses for motorbikes and four-wheeled vehicles to aid safety.

As they did last year, Robbie and the ‘Mission Dakar 2026’ team will be hosting a social evening in Northallerton on the run up to the event with a memorabilia auction, chat show and star guests, details to be announced.