Al-Rajhi eyes September return after accident at Rally Portugal

Saudi Arabia's Yazeed Al-Rajhi, the reigning Dakar Rally champion, aims to resume competitive racing by September following a serious accident in Jordan that left him with two broken vertebrae.

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Al-Rajhi, 43, became the first Saudi to win the Dakar Rally in January, completing the 12-stage race nearly four minutes ahead of South African rival Henk Lategan. The event, relocated to Saudi Arabia in 2020 after years in South America, originally followed a Europe-to-Africa route but shifted due to security concerns after 2007.

"I am gradually recovering from the injury I sustained in Aqaba last April while participating in the Jordan Baja," Al-Rajhi told on Tuesday, referencing the accident that flipped his car during the rally. His co-driver, Germany's Timo Gottschalk, was also seriously injured.

"I am following the treatment and rehabilitation program strictly under the supervision of a specialised medical team, amid high morale and great determination to return."

Al-Rajhi, who competes for his own team Yazeed Racing, said he expects to return in September at Rally Portugal.

"God willing, I anticipate resuming participation in competitions in the last quarter of the 2025 season," he added, noting his plans to rejoin the FIA World Baja Cup, FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, and Saudi Arabia's national championship.