Dakar 2026: Our race report

This year, nearly 90% of all 4-wheel drive competitors and 100% of the 2-wheel drive category were equipped with SADEV gearboxes.

Every single victory in both 4WD and 2WD categories at the 2026 Dakar was achieved with vehicles equipped with SADEV, once again demonstrating our commitment to delivering reliable, high‑performance solutions tailored to the extreme demands of Off-road racing.

Across the 13 stages of Dakar 2026, 9 were won with the SC924LW, the latest generation of SADEV’s 4‑wheel‑drive gearbox and an evolution of our iconic SC924.

This innovation is fully aligned with SADEV’s DNA, more excellence for more performance. Feedback has been unanimous:

• Drivers praised its outstanding reliability in the harshest race conditions.
• Engineers highlighted its compact design, enabling better chassis integration and ultimately boosting vehicle performance.

^{Photo credit: Ford M‑Sport}

After its first appearance in 2025, the patented SADEV SP08 differential has become the benchmark in the T1+ category. Teams once again praised its reliability, it completed more than 8500 kms of the 2026 Dakar without a single technical intervention.

Thanks to its innovative technical architecture, it enabled vehicles to tackle dunes effortlessly and to navigate rocky sections under extreme mechanical stress. It has clearly become a game‑changer for new‑generation cars such as those from The Dacia Sandriders where our ambassador Sébastien Loeb drives, Ford M‑Sport, Overdrive‑TGR, Hanwei Motorsport, Redlined and more.

^{Photo credit: The Dacia Sandriders – Sébastien Loeb}

With five years of Dakar experience, the SL924 gearbox has become the reference for the T1.2 2‑wheel‑drive category. This year, it powered the buggies of MD Rallye Sport and Century Racing.

Engineered to handle the power and torque of the most demanding engines, whether naturally aspirated or turbocharged, up to 650 N·m (479 ft-lbs). Capacity, robustness, and innovation are the key attributes of this product.

To learn more, click here to discover MD Rallye Sport feedback.

^{Photo credit: MD Rallye Sport}

Just taking the start line was already a victory for the X‑Raid crew we supported this year. Their emotional stage win on day one set the tone, but the following days brought a series of mechanical challenges that tested their resilience.

Despite the setbacks, Mathieu Baumel and Guillaume de Mévius demonstrated remarkable determination, fighting their way back to compete again for stage victories. We are proud to have supported them—this duo embodies the perseverance and passion that define the spirit of the Dakar.

^{Photo credits: X-Raid}

Behind every victory stood our dedicated SADEV technical team, Damien, Cédric, Gilles, Laurent, and Maxime working day and night to ensure the performance and reliability of SADEV gearboxes and differentials.

Their expertise, quick response, and unwavering commitment were invaluable to all our customer teams. In total, the SADEV support truck covered more than 5,000 km during the race. This Dakar is also their victory. Congratulations to the entire team for their outstanding work!

The Dakar Rally is a unique adventure, and we are already looking forward to the next edition. If you’re preparing for Dakar 2027 and looking for products that combine performance, reliability, and innovation, get in touch with our sales team today by clicking here.