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Edgar Canet on his KTM at the finish of the Rallye du Maroc 2026, in the context of Dakar 2027 uncertainty

Dakar and Politics: The Pressure Mounts

Published by Thomas Menzel on 6. October 2026

Series: Dakar News

UPDATE · As of 6 October 2026

The political situation is increasing the pressure on the Dakar 2027. After the talks held during the Rallye du Maroc, Spanish media report two possible paths: a modified route in Saudi Arabia or a shorter replacement event in Morocco. The Dakar is still publicly announced for Saudi Arabia from 1 to 15 January. A final relocation or cancellation has not so far been confirmed in the official statements reviewed.

Dakar, ASO and the governing bodies FIM and FIA: logos for editorial identification, not a joint statement.

What has changed since the ASO talks

Mundo Deportivo, 5 October, reports on eight stages in Morocco under the working title “Rally Merzouga by Dakar”. No official entry notice exists for it.

Politics is tightening the timetable

Reuters reported on 5 October on renewed fighting in Yemen and a crisis meeting of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey in Riyadh. According to a joint statement, the three countries agreed on rapid military support for Saudi Arabia. At the same time, the Houthis claimed attacks on targets including Riyadh airport and a refinery in Rabigh. Reuters was initially unable to confirm these claims independently. Source: Reuters.

Editorial assessment: For a rally, it is not enough to remove individual stages from endangered areas. Personnel have to travel, equipment has to be transported and medical care has to be organised. A more northerly route can be one element of a safety concept; it does not answer these questions on its own.

Which alternatives are being discussed?

Option Content Status of evidence
Saudi Arabia with a new route According to AS, still the priority: a shift to the north, fewer bivouacs and transfers, and additional security. Media report on the talks; the final modified route has not been publicly confirmed.
Shorter rally in Morocco Eight stages and the working title “Rally Merzouga by Dakar” are reported. Concrete contingency planning according to Mundo Deportivo; name, date, price and world championship status remain to be confirmed.
Africa Eco Race Separate event from 24 January to 6 February 2027. Officially announced; a possible alternative for individual teams, not an announced ASO replacement.
Cancellation or postponement Remains conceivable if no workable solution is found. Editorial risk scenario; no decision has been taken.

Sources: AS, 3 October, Mundo Deportivo, 5 October and Africa Eco Race, 2027 edition.

A return to South America or a new multi-country Dakar cannot be substantiated as a concrete ASO option from the current sources reviewed. Morocco, moreover, is not automatically a full Dakar under a different sky: a shortened replacement rally would have a different sporting scope. For teams and sponsors, what matters is which services and classifications are actually offered.

Edgar Canet on his KTM with number 73 in the finish area of the Rallye du Maroc 2026
Edgar Canet at the Rallye du Maroc 2026. KTM wants to keep racing, but demands a responsible solution for the team. The photo shows the sporting context, not the ASO security talks. Photo: © Edoardo Bauer / Edophoto, provided in the KTM press report of 3 October 2026.

How are the manufacturers positioning themselves?

KTM: Andreas Hölzl demands a safe solution

In the Mundo Deportivo report of 5 October, KTM team principal Andreas Hölzl backs a safe Plan B. His limit: “We do not want to be dragged into a military conflict.” He stresses the responsibility for riders and staff. The quote has been translated from Spanish.

Ford, Dacia, Toyota and FIM: voices before the talks

AS, 1 October: Carlos Sainz (Ford) expresses doubts about feasibility; Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia) expects a Dakar in Saudi Arabia. Matt Wilson (Ford) prefers Saudi Arabia to Morocco and calls for clarity. Jorge Viegas (FIM) demands security guarantees and sees factory teams as decisive. Toyota reportedly does not want to send employees if the conflict continues.

These statements predate the final ASO talks. Riders’ opinions are not manufacturer decisions; the Toyota report is no substitute for an official withdrawal.

Honda: Brabec and Faria continue preparing

After Morocco, Ricky Brabec wants to work on the weaknesses identified and make use of the progress on the motorcycle. Team manager Ruben Faria says: “We are moving in the right direction for the Dakar.” The source is Honda’s official final report of 3 October; the short quote has been translated from English.

Adrien Van Beveren also speaks there of continuing to work intensively until the Dakar. These statements show that sporting preparation is ongoing. They contain no decision on Saudi Arabia or Morocco and no assessment of the political security situation.

Hero: Docherty and Fischer continue their work

In the official Hero team report of 3 October, Mike Docherty says the team will keep working and improving at the next rallies in order to be ready for the Dakar. Team principal Wolfgang Fischer highlights the data gained, the work of the crew and the development of young talent. This statement contains no decision on the venue.

For Sherco and ZXMOTO, the research could not substantiate any new public decision between Saudi Arabia and Morocco. A common position among all motorcycle manufacturers would therefore be an over-interpretation.

TimeOut Racing: Saudi Arabia preferred, Morocco welcome

A position by an assistance provider that can be attributed by name comes from Sven Syfrig of TimeOut Racing. In the team update read on 6 October, he names Saudi Arabia as the first choice. Morocco offers more planning certainty; the team would also welcome a Dakar there. A final decision has not yet been made.

This is the own view of a company involved. The other event details in this article rest largely on the Mundo Deportivo report and therefore do not count as independent second confirmation.

Pep Vila: experience from organisation

Pep Vila, Pro-Dunes investor, considers Morocco feasible as an emergency solution. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo on 5 October, he confirms contact with ASO and signals support. His assessment comes from the organiser’s circle, not from an independent security expert.

What can be drawn from these voices

Editorial assessment: The statements show three different levels: the riders’ wish to compete; the teams’ responsibility for employees and logistics; and the organisers’ interest in offering a viable format. This does not yet add up to a joint go-ahead.

The research could not find a publicly available, independent expert assessment of the specific Dakar 2027 route. Anonymous statements from the paddock are therefore also not treated as established team decisions. A reliable probability of cancellation cannot be quantified from these voices alone.

Ricky Brabec being interviewed in the finish area of the Rallye du Maroc 2026
Ricky Brabec in a media interview at the Rallye du Maroc 2026. Honda’s sporting focus remains on Dakar preparation. Photo source: Honda Racing Corporation, press gallery of 3 October 2026; photographer not named for the image used. The photo does not document any statement by Brabec on the political situation.

Why manufacturer decisions carry so much weight

A concrete comparison comes from the WRC: on 17 September, the FIA confirmed that the Saudi round in 2026 will not count towards the World Rally Championship. It cited regional uncertainty and the impact on logistics. At the same time, the event was to remain as a round of the Middle East Rally Championship. The official statement shows that international and regional competitions can be assessed differently.

Our assessment: Approval in the host country does not in itself guarantee a full field of factory entries. Each manufacturer has to make its own decision on personnel and equipment. That is precisely why the factory teams can have considerable influence on the solution that is practicable, even though ASO organises the event.

Contracts, insurance and conflicting deadlines

RallyTracks reports, citing its own unnamed sources, that use of the Dakar name outside Saudi Arabia could depend on Saudi consent. The contract terms are not public. This is a relevant pointer to possible obligations, but not a verifiable, complete interpretation of the contract.

Blanket statements about insurance are also out of place. The official Dakar page distinguishes between medical assistance, liability and supplementary cover. It expressly points to low compensation relative to vehicle value for transport damage. Whether a specific contract covers war risks, cancellation or repatriation cannot be derived from this in general terms.

On the decision date, the reports contradict each other: Mundo Deportivo mentions roughly two decisive weeks from 5 October; AS of 3 October expects clarity by the end of November. A uniform official decision deadline is therefore not established. The current ASO calendar gives 20 October as the entry deadline and 27/28 November for shipping in Europe. The 29 November cited in press reports differs from this.

What will be decisive now

The next reliable steps would be a written ASO decision on venue and format, the specific route, and clear participation decisions by the factory teams. In the case of a Moroccan replacement, the entry notice, classification, prices and rebooking conditions would also have to be available.

The situation is serious, the outcome remains open. The wish to race in January is evident. Whether this becomes the announced Dakar in Saudi Arabia or another format has not been decided on the basis of the publicly available information so far.

Sources and photo credits

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