The South African Powerhouse, Dakar 2026 Final Review
- Karen Scheepers
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
For South Africa, the 2026 Dakar Rally was more than a race; it was a 7,000km showcase of local engineering excellence. South African-prepared machines have become the cornerstones of the entry list, with more than half of the cars in the elite Ultimate (T1+) Class boasting SA-born lineage.
The Flagship: Toyota Gazoo Racing SA (TGRSA)
Operating out of their high-tech base in Barbeque Downs, TGRSA fielded a formidable four-crew line-up in the refined GR Hilux IMT Evo:
The Star: 20-year-old Saood Variawa (partnered with Francois Cazalet) proved he is the future of the sport. He finished 10th overall, securing a historic Stage 8 victory and showing the raw pace to fight for the podium.
The Consistent: Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena were a picture of composure, frequently running inside the top six and finishing 14th overall despite late-race punctures.
The International Support: Argentina's Juan Cruz Yacopini and Portugal's João Ferreira rounded out the squad, ensuring the SA-built Hilux stayed at the sharp end of the leaderboard.
The Engineering Powerhouses: Century, NWM, and beyond
The "South African School" of design was visible across every category:
Century Racing: The Midrand-based team’s CR7 buggy, driven by Brian Baragwanath and Leonard Cremer, remained a thorn in the side of the factory teams, proving that independent SA engineering can trade blows with global giants.
The Ford/VW Alliance: The Ford Raptor T1+ (developed with Neil Woolridge Motorsport in Pietermaritzburg) took 2nd overall with Nani Roma. Additionally, the SA-built Volkswagen Amarok (PS Laser Racing) saw navigators like Henry Köhne and Stuart Gregory showcasing local talent in the cockpit.
Beyond Four Wheels: Two-Wheel and Heavy Metal Heroes
Motorcycles: Bradley Cox (Sherco Rally Factory) led the charge in RallyGP, while Michael Docherty and Ronald Venter carried the flag in the Rally2 category.
The "Navigator" Nation: South African expertise was "exported" to international crews, with legendary navigators like Dennis Murphy and Leander Pienaar guiding American and Saudi drivers respectively.
Trucks (T5): Even in the heavy-duty category, SA's Grant Ballington represented the nation aboard a South Racing-supported truck.
🚗 The Car Category (Ultimate T1+): Engineering Excellence
The South African-built Toyota Hilux IMT Evo and Century CR7 were the stars of the production logs.
Driver / Navigator | Team / Vehicle | Final Overall Position |
Saood Variawa / F. Cazalet | TGRSA (Toyota Hilux) | 10th Overall (Top SA Driver) |
Guy Botterill / O. Mena | TGRSA (Toyota Hilux) | 14th Overall |
Brian Baragwanath / L. Cremer | Century Racing (CR7) | 16th Overall |
João Ferreira / F. Palmeiro | TGRSA (Toyota Hilux) | 18th Overall |
Henk Lategan / B. Cummings | TGR W2RC (Toyota Hilux) | 21st Overall (Stage 4 Winner) |
Jürgen Schröder / Stuart Gregory | PS Laser (VW Amarok) | 57th Overall |
The Standout: 20-year-old Saood Variawa secured his third finish in three attempts. His Stage 8 victory signaled a changing of the guard, making him the youngest driver in the overall top 10.
Heartbreak: Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings led the entire rally during the first week (Stages 4 and 5). Despite winning a stage, a catastrophic mechanical failure on Stage 11 cost them four hours, dropping them from a certain podium to 21st.
🏁 Challenger & SSV: The Future Stars
South African talent isn't just in the heavy metal; the lighter categories saw some of the most historic performances of the year.
Puck Klaassen (Challenger Class): The Stellenbosch student made history as only the 5th woman ever to win a Dakar stage (Stage 3). She finished a magnificent 5th Overall in the Challenger Class.
Dennis Murphy: The legendary navigator assisted American Lawrence Janesky to 17th Overall in the SSV category.
Leander Pienaar: Unfortunately forced to retire after a crash in Stage 4 while navigating for Abdullah Al-Fahad.
🏍️ Motorcycles: The Iron Men
The "Malle Moto" spirit remains strong with our riders facing the elements solo.
Michael Docherty: A phenomenal performance saw him win the Rally 2 Amateur Class (finishing roughly 9th overall in the early stages).
Bradley Cox: Battled through technical issues on his Sherco Factory bike to remain a top contender for the Durban contingent.
Ronald Venter: Showed incredible endurance to cross the finish line in Yanbu, maintaining his status as a hardcore Dakar finisher.
The Verdict: A Global Hub
As the sun sets on the 2026 edition in Yanbu, it is clear that South Africa is the "Silicon Valley" of Rally-Raid.. While Nasser Al-Attiyah took his 6th overall title for Dacia, he did so while being chased by a fleet of South African-built machines.
From Puck Klaassen’s historic stage win to Saood Variawa’s top-10 finish, the 2026 log proves that the South African rally-raid industry is at its absolute zenith. Or the sheer volume of Hilux and Ranger chassis built on our soil, the Dakar Rally's heart beats to a South African rhythm.
🇿🇦🏆🔥🏁
Comments