Saudi rally champion Yazeed bin Mohammed Al Rajhi is set to take on Rallye du Maroc 2026, the fourth round of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), scheduled to take place from 28 September to 3 October, bringing together some of the world’s leading rally-raid competitors.
Al Rajhi will contest the rally alongside German co-driver Dennis Zenz, who continues his role alongside the Saudi driver following their partnership at Baja Aragón, as regular co-driver Timo Gottschalk continues his recovery from injury. Zenz previously stepped in for Gottschalk in Aragón, and the pair will renew their partnership in Morocco aboard the Toyota Hilux T1+, prepared by Overdrive Racing, in the Ultimate category.
This year’s route covers approximately 2,524 kilometres, including 1,575 kilometres of timed selective sections, across a demanding mix of rocky tracks, sandy terrain and dunes. The varied terrain will provide a comprehensive test of speed, navigation, endurance and reliability.
The rally begins in Agadir, with administrative checks, scrutineering and pre-event testing taking place ahead of the competitive action. Stage 1 gets underway on 29 September from Agadir towards Zagora, after which the rally caravan will settle into a central bivouac near Zagora, where the remaining four stages will be contested before the finish on 3 October.
The 2026 edition features a strong desert character, taking competitors from the Atlantic coastal surroundings of Agadir into the heart of the Moroccan desert around Zagora. The route combines mountainous, rocky and sandy terrain with dunes, while the final four stages are centred around Zagora, adding to the navigational and endurance challenges facing the crews.
Al Rajhi returns to Morocco aiming to build on his previous success at the event, having claimed victory in 2023 alongside Gottschalk. With extensive rally-raid experience and strong knowledge of the Moroccan terrain, the Saudi driver will look to make the most of the event as part of his preparations for the challenges ahead.
Speaking ahead of the rally, Al Rajhi said:
“I’m happy to be back at Rallye du Maroc. It brings back great memories for us after our victory here in 2023.”
Al Rajhi emphasised that the primary objective of his participation is to prepare for the 2027 Dakar Rally, saying:
“Our main objective at Rallye du Maroc is to prepare in the best possible way for Dakar 2027 and complete the rally without any retirements or technical issues. The team carried out five days of testing and introduced new developments to the car, so we are looking forward to evaluating them during the rally and making sure everything is ready.”
Commenting on Gottschalk’s absence and his continued partnership with Zenz, Al Rajhi added:
“Of course, we miss having Timo with us this time, and we wish him a speedy recovery and hope to have him back soon. He is an important partner in our journey. At the same time, I’m happy to continue working with Dennis, and we want to put together a strong rally and make the most of every stage.”
Rallye du Maroc 2026 Schedule
26 September: Administrative checks and scrutineering – Agadir
27 September: Administrative checks + pre-event press conference
29 September: Stage 1 – 268 km of selective section, starting from Agadir
30 September: Stage 2 – 300 km of selective section, starting from Zagora
1 October: Stage 3 – 364 km of selective section, starting from Zagora
2 October: Stage 4 – 384 km of selective section, starting from Zagora
3 October: Stage 5 – 259 km of selective section, starting from Zagora
3 October – 6:00 PM: Post-event press conference – Zagora
3 October – 7:30 PM: Prize-giving ceremony – Zagora Bivouac
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