Yazeed Al Rajhi eyes seventh title at 2026 Jeddah Toyota Rally

Saudi rally champion Yazeed Al Rajhi is gearing up to compete in the 2026 Jeddah Toyota Rally, the second round of the Saudi Toyota Desert Rally Championship, taking place from November 11 to 14. Al Rajhi is targeting his seventh overall and fifth consecutive victory at the event.

Al Rajhi will be joined by German co-driver Dennis Zenz, who is making his debut at the Jeddah rally. They will compete in a Toyota Hilux prepared by the Belgian Overdrive Racing team, with the squad undergoing intensive technical preparations.

Al Rajhi has previously claimed the Jeddah Rally title six times—in 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025—and is looking to further cement his legacy in one of Saudi Arabia’s premier desert rally rounds.

The 2026 edition brings a new twist, as Jeddah now serves as the second round instead of the finale, following the season opener in Hail. The championship will conclude at the Qassim Rally, where the overall title will be decided.

Al Rajhi has also won the Saudi Toyota Desert Rally Championship five times—in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025—and is aiming for a sixth crown this season.

His participation in both the Jeddah and Qassim rallies is part of his preparation for the 2027 Dakar Rally. Al Rajhi and Overdrive Racing are working on a new Toyota Hilux, which is expected to debut at the Qassim Rally as they gear up for the global challenge ahead.

German co-driver Timo Gottschalk is expected to rejoin Al Rajhi for the Qassim round once he has fully recovered, as part of their preparations for upcoming international competitions.

2026 Jeddah Rally schedule

• Administrative and technical checks: Wednesday, November 11
• Prologue and ceremonial start: Thursday, November 12
• Stage 1: Friday, November 13
• Stage 2 and podium ceremony: Saturday, November 14

The rally covers a total distance of 660.89 kilometers, with 252.60 kilometers of timed stages. Teams will be based at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which will serve as the main headquarters and service area.

Participant comments

Yazeed Al Rajhi said: "Thank God, we return to the Jeddah Rally with great ambition, aiming for a seventh win and a fifth consecutive title. Jeddah always holds a special place for us, and we have achieved many victories and titles here over the years. This year, the championship is different, with the finale in Qassim, but our goal remains to compete for victory in every round and to win the Saudi Toyota Championship for a sixth time, God willing."

He added: "Our participation in Jeddah and Qassim is very important as part of our preparations for the 2027 Dakar Rally in Portugal and Morocco. We are working with Overdrive Racing to prepare the new car for next season, which is set to be ready for the Qassim Rally. Our aim is to use these events to reach Dakar in the best possible shape and to compete for another world title, God willing."

German co-driver Dennis Zenz said: "This is my first time at the Jeddah Rally, and I am excited to take on this challenge alongside Yazeed. We are well aware of his experience and impressive results here in recent years. Our goal is to deliver a strong performance, work in harmony throughout the stages, and help Yazeed Racing achieve the result they are aiming for."

Al Rajhi’s participation in the Jeddah Rally underscores his ambition to continue competing at the highest level both locally and internationally, ahead of the final round in Qassim and the global challenge at Dakar 2027.