San Juan (Argentina): Saudi world champion Yazeed Al Rajhi continues his preparations for the Desafío Ruta 40 Rally in Argentina, the third round of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), as part of his long-term program and preparations towards Dakar Rally 2027.
Yazeed Al Rajhi and his German co-driver Timo Gottschalk enter the rally facing strong competition and a world-class field in one of the most demanding and diverse rounds of the championship in terms of terrain and stages. Argentina represents a key test for both technical and physical readiness aboard the Toyota Hilux prepared by Overdrive Racing.
The Argentine Desafío Ruta 40 returns to the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship calendar this year after missing last season, while the most recent edition was held in 2024, where Saudi champion Yazeed Al Rajhi claimed victory and secured the rally title.
This year’s rally consists of five competitive stages covering a total distance of approximately 2,993 km, including 1,727 km of timed special stages. The event starts in San Juan, heads towards San Rafael, before returning once again to San Juan for the final stage.
Stage 3 features the longest special stage of the rally at more than 400 km, making it one of the toughest technical and physical challenges for drivers and teams, especially with the varied terrain that includes rocky tracks, sand dunes, and fast open sections.
Desafío Ruta 40 represents an important opportunity for Al Rajhi to continue developing performance and gaining valuable competitive experience, particularly due to the rally’s demanding combination of dunes, dry riverbeds, rocky terrain, and the Andes mountains, making it one of the closest events in nature to the challenges of Dakar Rally.
Yazeed Al Rajhi also holds special memories with the Argentine rally after winning the 2024 edition, becoming the first Saudi driver to claim victory in the event since its inclusion in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, in a historic achievement that strengthened his presence among the world’s elite rally-raid drivers as he now aims to defend his title.
The 2026 edition features more than 100 vehicles across various categories, with participation from some of the world’s top drivers and teams in what is expected to be one of the most competitive and exciting rounds of the season.
Yazeed Al Rajhi continues to emphasize that his ambitions go beyond competing in the world championship rounds, focusing instead on building a long-term project aimed at achieving the highest levels of consistency, readiness, and competitiveness in the world’s toughest rally-raid events, led by Dakar Rally 2027.
Saudi champion Yazeed Al Rajhi said: “Desafío Ruta 40 holds special memories for me after our victory in the 2024 edition, but this year we return with a new mindset and greater focus to deliver a strong performance and benefit from every kilometer as part of our journey toward our future goals, especially Dakar Rally.”
Meanwhile, German co-driver Timo Gottschalk added: “The Argentine rally always presents different challenges due to the variety of terrain and the length of the special stages, which makes it an important test for us as a team. Our goal this year is to maintain consistency and deliver a smart performance that helps us continue improving throughout the season.”
