Sanjay Takale Returns to Dakar Rally 2026, Remains Only Indian in Four-Wheeler Category

New Delhi, December 29, 2025: Veteran rally driver Sanjay Takale, the only Indian to compete in a car at the Dakar Rally, is set to make his second successive appearance at the world’s toughest rally raid as he departs from Delhi to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for the Dakar Rally 2026.

Takale created history earlier this year by becoming the first Indian to compete and finish in the Car category at the Dakar. Competing in the Dakar Classic, a regularity-based endurance event for historic rally vehicles, the 57-year-old finished an impressive 18th overall and 10th in class in the 2025 edition.

For the 2026 Dakar Rally, Takale will once again represent Team Aerpace Racers, teaming up with French navigator Maxime Raud. The campaign will be supported technically and logistically by Compagnie Saharienne, France, which had also backed his landmark debut at Dakar in 2025.

India will also be represented in the two-wheeler category by TVS Sherco rider Harith Noah from Kerala and Pune-based privateer Jatin Jain, further strengthening the country’s presence at the iconic rally.

With over three decades in motorsport, Takale’s career spans motocross in the 1980s to a distinguished career in car rallying, including winning the Asia-Pacific Production Cup and competing in selected World Rally Championship (WRC) events. Hailing from Manjari village near Pune, Takale is widely regarded as a pioneer among Indian privateers to sustain a long-term presence in international rallying.

Reflecting on his debut Dakar appearance, Takale described finishing the 2025 Dakar Classic as a defining milestone. Ahead of the 2026 edition, he said his focus would be on consistency and discipline.
“My goal is to complete the event again and improve on last year’s result through a consistent, disciplined approach,” Takale said.

He has often spoken about his long-standing fascination with the Dakar Rally, calling it “the biggest, longest and most challenging rally in the world” and “the ultimate test of endurance and spirit.”

The Dakar Rally, regarded as one of the most demanding motorsport events globally, is run over two weeks across punishing terrain including sand dunes, rocks and desert tracks. The Dakar Classic category places emphasis on endurance, navigation and precision, rather than outright speed.

Takale is expected to be the only Indian competitor in the four-wheeler field for the second consecutive year, underlining the limited yet steadily growing Indian footprint in international cross-country rallying.