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Driving a Toyota HDJ 100 for team Aerpace Racers, Sanjay Takale became the first Indian to win a four-wheel stage at the Dakar Rally after clinching victory in Stage 1
The extraordinary Dakar Rally 2026 campaign of Sanjay Takale came to a premature and heartbreaking end after an engine failure forced his retirement – cutting short what had already become one of the most significant performances by an Indian driver at the world’s toughest rally. Competing in the Dakar Classic H3 category, Takale had firmly established himself as a front-runner before mechanical trouble brought his charge to a halt – reminding us once again how unforgiving the Dakar can be.
The Indian rally driver had already etched his name into Dakar history earlier in the event. Driving a Toyota HDJ 100 for team Aerpace Racers, Takale became the first Indian to win a four-wheel stage at the Dakar Rally after clinching victory in Stage 1 of the Classic H3 group. He backed that up with another commanding win in Stage 2.
Running across the vast and punishing landscapes of Saudi Arabia, the Dakar Classic demands accuracy, discipline and mechanical sympathy rather than outright speed. After a measured Prologue, Takale found his rhythm early, navigating dunes, rocky terrain and complex navigation sections with growing confidence. His ability to balance precision with consistency quickly turned him into one of the standout competitors in the H3 class.
Stage 3, run as a demanding loop around AlUla, tested crews to their limits. The 266 km stage featured three Regularity Tests including a punishing 106 km section loaded with 26 Virtual Time Controls. Takale and his co-driver focused on clean navigation and penalty control – limiting errors and maintaining their class advantage. Despite battling fatigue and terrain, the duo climbed into the top 20 overall standings while extending their H3 class lead.
Trouble struck late in the stage when an oil leak was detected – threatening to derail the run. Showing trademark composure, Takale nursed the car to the AlUla bivouac, salvaging the stage and keeping his overall momentum intact. It was a moment that perfectly captured the Dakar ethos -adapt, endure and keep moving forward regardless of setbacks.
His resilience, however, wasn’t enough to overcome what followed. Stage 4 delivered the cruelest blow as an engine failure brought Takale’s Dakar journey to an abrupt end. After winning the Prologue, Stage 1 and Stage 2, his retirement was a stark reminder that Dakar rewards preparation and courage but spares no one from mechanical fate.
At 57, Sanjay Takale’s 2026 Dakar run stands as a huge achievement for Indian motorsport. While the rally ended in disappointment, his stage wins, class dominance and calm execution reiterated that his historic 2025 finish was only the beginning and that Indian drivers belong on the world’s toughest motorsport stage.
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