Russian racer Karjakin will compete at the Dakar Rally for the first time in five years

The team of Russian racing driver Sergey Karjakin will compete at the Dakar Rally Marathon in 2027 under the Russian flag. The athlete announced this at a press conference on November 13.

"Just yesterday, we confirmed that our team is going to the Dakar in 2027. <...> After a five-year break, we will go to the Dakar. For me personally, this Dakar will be the tenth," TASS quoted him as saying.

The team is currently dealing with logistical and technical issues, including the choice of a car. Due to changes in the technical regulations, riders will have to use a third-party car instead of their own cars.

Karjakin became the first Russian athlete to win the Dakar in the quad bike competition. This happened in 2017. In 2020, he also won a prize in the category of off-road vehicles.

On October 30, the press service of the Dakar Rally Marathon announced that in 2027, for the first time in several years, it will be held outside Saudi Arabia. The organizers postponed the competition to Portugal and Morocco due to the fighting in the Middle East.

The start is scheduled for January 9 in the Portuguese city of Lola, and the finish is scheduled for January 23 in Marrakech. The total length of the route will be 7.8 thousand km, of which 4.3 thousand km will fall on high-speed special stages. In 2028, the organizers expect to return the race to Saudi Arabia.