The route of the 2027 Dakar Rally has long been clear. The race is to be held between January 1 and January 15, in the western part of Saudi Arabia, with all logistics taking place across the Red Sea.
The organizers continue to confirm that there are no problems for the 2027 race, but with each passing day, security in Saudi Arabia is becoming more and more questionable.
This is one of the largest races in the world, involving very difficult logistics and enormous resources. However, the insecurity in Saudi Arabia is starting to affect the race now. Instead of calming down, the US war against Iran is gaining momentum. Without going into details, but the war in the Persian Gulf has a high chance of escalating, which will inevitably include Saudi Arabia.

Is it possible to repeat Dakar 2008?

A similar incident has already occurred in the history of the race. In 2008, the Dakar Rally was cancelled just a day before the start due to serious security concerns on the route in Mauritania, following warnings of possible terrorist attacks. This remains the only time the race has been cancelled entirely for security reasons.

There is currently no public information about specific threats directed at the organizers, teams or competitors of the 2027 Dakar Rally. However, if the region remains affected by military action or restrictions on air and sea transport are introduced by the beginning of 2027, this could make it difficult to organize and hold the race.

So far, the organizers have not announced a backup option or alternative host country. On the contrary, ASO’s long-term strategy envisages expanding the route to other countries in the region, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, if security conditions allow.

In the coming months, the development of the political and military situation in the Middle East will likely be one of the factors that will be closely monitored by both the organizers, teams and fans of the toughest off-road race in the world.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) continue to fight at the front in the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship season finale — the Rallye du Maroc — with Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleón moving up to second overall after another strong stage performance.

Stage 2 presented a demanding mix of rocky tracks, soft sand, and the first major dunes of the rally, pushing crews and machines to the limit. Visibility was particularly challenging as competitors raced near the Algerian border, with dust and glare making navigation extremely difficult.

Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleón, driving the #202 GR Hilux EVO, showcased their consistency and pace, finishing third on the stage. Their calculated approach through the dunes earned them valuable time, placing them firmly in second overall in the provisional standings.

Teammates Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (#204) were also on course for a top result before a rear differential failure with 110 km remaining forced them to complete the stage using only front-wheel drive. Despite the setback, the crew managed to reach the finish line and remain in the rally.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short (#205) experienced similar misfortune, as their GR Hilux EVO suffered the same technical issue in the dunes, ending their day prematurely after showing strong pace throughout the stage.

Stage 3 on Wednesday will be the longest and most demanding of the rally — a 322 km loop around Erfoud featuring deep dunes, rocky tracks, wadis, and camel grass — combining slow technical sections with high-speed action.

Driver Quotes

Henk Lategan (#204):
“Today was really tough for us. The rear diff failed with many kilometers still to go — far from ideal, especially before the dunes. It made crossing them almost impossible and ended our realistic championship hopes. The positive is that we can restart tomorrow; the car can be repaired, and we’ll continue gaining experience for next year.”

Lucas Moraes (#202):
“It was a very nice stage, and the car worked perfectly all day. The dunes were challenging, especially with visibility being so bad. Near the end, we caught Ekström but decided to follow him to avoid any dune hazards. It was a solid day — I’m thankful to the team, and we’ll keep pushing.”

Seth Quintero (#205):
“It started as a great day — smooth, consistent, and fast. We were leading for most of the stage before losing the rear diff right before the dunes, which unfortunately ended our Morocco rally. Still, we’re taking positives from this — the teamwork with Andrew is great, and my driving feels stronger than ever.”