Motorsports
Dakar’s first major abandonment: automotive champion withdraws from race
Yazeed Al Rajhi, Dakar 2025 Champion Defender of the automotive sector and therefore the crown, he became the first in the highest class of four wheels to significantly abandon all championship prospects to the scepter of the Dakar.
The Saudi driver suffered three punctures and is now without a spare wheel, making him unable to drive. The Saudi billionaire was disappointed after completing a flawless test in 2025, placing the scepter on speed as well as management and demonstrating a major change in mentality. In previous editions, Al Rajhi always stood out for his acceleration and aggressive driving, but in 2025 he knew how to remain calm in complex areas and not take risks.
This time, during the first half of the first stage (Stage 4) of the marathon, there was no assistance at the end of the special run in the evacuation camp, so I suffered up to three punctures in one day, where rescue was key. The Dakar no longer has a current champion.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
I am a writer at Sportish, where I mainly cover sports news. I’ve also written for The Guardian and ESPN Brasil, and my work has been featured on NBC Sports, SI.com and more. Before working in journalism, I was an athlete: I played football for Colgate University and competed in the US Open Cross Country Championships.
