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Sanjay Takale delivered a sensational performance in the Cars category becoming the first Indian to win a stage in the four-wheel classification at Dakar Rally 2026
Indian motorsport created history at the Dakar Rally 2026 as Sanjay Takale delivered a sensational performance in the Cars category – becoming the first Indian driver to win a stage in the four-wheel classification. Takale followed up his Prologue triumph with a dominant Stage 1 victory in Group H3 – firmly stamping his authority on the world’s toughest rally.
Competing in Car No. 722, Takale, alongside French co-driver Maxime Raud, topped the H3 standings in Stage 1 with a score of 265 points – finishing well clear of his closest rivals. Spain’s Jose Sole and Sergio Cerezo secured second place with 348 points while fellow Spaniards Raul Ortiz and Raul Ortiz finished third on 414 points.
The stage win comes immediately after Takale’s Prologue victory where he also finished 35th overall in the Cars category. The Prologue comprised a 96 km route including a 22 km Special Stage and set the tone for what has already become a landmark Dakar campaign for the Indian driver. By winning the Prologue, Takale earned the advantage of starting Stage 1 from the front — an opportunity he capitalised on emphatically.
Stage 1, run from Yanbu to Yanbu, featured a demanding 305 km Special Stage – known for complex navigation, soft dunes and relentless terrain. Takale’s consistency, pace and tactical control allowed him to lead the field in his class emphasising his reputation as one of the most accomplished Indian competitors to ever take on the Dakar Rally.
The breakthrough builds on Takale’s growing Dakar legacy. In the previous edition, the 56-year-old became the first Indian to finish the Dakar Rally – competing in the Dakar Classic category with a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78. He completed the gruelling two-week event to finish 18th overall – highlighted by a top five result in the final stage.
With a professional racing career spanning more than 30 years and over 75 victories across national and international events including the Asia Pacific Rally Championship Production Cup in 2013, Takale continues to push Indian motorsport onto the global stage. Supported by French outfit Compagnie Saharienne, his Dakar 2026 performance already stands as one of the most significant achievements by an Indian in rally raid history.
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