Rallying-Dakar Rally champion Al-Rajhi eyes September return after accident

Saudi Arabia's Yazeed Al-Rajhi, the reigning Dakar Rally champion, aims to resume competitive racing by September following a serious accident in Jordan that left him with two broken vertebrae.

Al-Rajhi, 43, became the first Saudi to win the Dakar Rally in January, completing the 12-stage race nearly four minutes ahead of South African rival Henk Lategan. The event, relocated to Saudi Arabia in 2020 after years in South America, originally followed a Europe-to-Africa route but shifted due to security concerns after 2007.

"I am gradually recovering from the injury I sustained in Aqaba last April while participating in the Jordan Baja," Al-Rajhi told Reuters on Tuesday, referencing the accident that flipped his car during the rally. His co-driver, Germany's Timo Gottschalk, was also seriously injured.

"I am following the treatment and rehabilitation program strictly under the supervision of a specialised medical team, amid high morale and great determination to return."

Al-Rajhi, who competes for his own team Yazeed Racing, said he expects to return in September at Rally Portugal.

"God willing, I anticipate resuming participation in competitions in the last quarter of the 2025 season," he added, noting his plans to rejoin the FIA World Baja Cup, FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, and Saudi Arabia's national championship.

Reflecting on his Dakar Rally victory, Al-Rajhi said: "I'm very proud and happy with this title after we won in Dakar with a private team not belonging to a factory for the first time in more than 25 years." He described the achievement as a "major turning point in the history of motorsport."

Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in motorsports under its Vision 2030 initiative, hosting events like