Saudi Next Gen Trains Saudi Drivers For Dakar 2026 As New Talent Emerges On World Stage

The Saudi Next Gen program has announced its first two graduates, drivers Hamza Bakhashab and Abdullah Alshequawi, who have earned places in the 2026 Dakar Rally after completing a demanding development pathway in Saudi Arabia’s national motorsports talent system.

The initiative, launched last year, targets young Saudi men and women and prepares them for international competition in motorsports. It is run by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, working closely with the Ministry of Sport.

At the heart of the Saudi Next Gen program is a full training ecosystem that blends classroom learning with track and desert practice. A dedicated curriculum guides participants through technical theory, race strategy, safety standards and the physical demands of long-distance rally events.

The program is supervised by a selected group of international experts and certified trainers, who monitor performance at every stage. Candidates first pass a competitive selection process, then move through several intensive skill-building phases designed to refine driving techniques and decision-making under pressure.

Training reaches its peak during field tests that use Yamaha side-by-side vehicles over real rally terrain. Participants must successfully complete the preliminary stage of the Dakar Rally route and then tackle two full desert rally stages, which serve as the final assessment of competitive readiness.

Hamza Bakhashab and Abdullah Alshequawi met all professional evaluation criteria during these trials and demonstrated strong racing ability. Their qualification for the 2026 Dakar Rally reflects the program’s central goal of enabling Saudi drivers to compete directly with leading international racers.

By building this new pool of athletes, the Saudi Next Gen program supports Saudi Vision 2030 and strengthens the Kingdom’s role as a global centre for motorsports and sports talent development. SPA reported the achievement at 13:13 local time, 10:13 GMT, under reference 0035.

With inputs from SPA