Off-road heavyweights head to desert for Dakar tune up

A posse of former Dakar champions have targeted the two Baja Hail events taking place in Saudi Arabia this month as a final tune up ahead of the big one next January.

Dakar legends such as Carlos Sainz, Stephane Peterhansel and Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah never turn down an opportunity to race in the desert.

Over the next seven days they have the chance to tackle two races as Baja Hail 1 & 2 cover more than 1,000 kilometres in the formidable An Nafud desert.

Reigning Dakar champion Sainz returns to Saudi Arabia aiming for more success. The Spaniard will be alongside co-driver and countryman Lucas Cruz in a MINI JCW Buggy.

Sainz will be searching for the winning formula that has already delivered three Dakar wins and two WRC titles in an ultra-impressive motorsports career.

The 2021 Dakar Rally will run from January 2 until January 15 in Saudi Arabia and start with a prologue stage for the first-time ever.

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