Sanjay Takale just made history at the 2026 Dakar Rally. The 56-year-old from India became the first Indian driver to win a stage in the four-wheel category at what is widely considered the most brutal motorsport event on the planet.
Takale, driving Car No. 722 with French co-driver Maxime Raud, dominated Stage 1 in the H3 class. He posted 265 points, leaving Spain’s Jose Sole and Sergio Cerezo in second with 348 points. Another Spanish duo, Raul Ortiz and Raul Ortiz, rounded out the top three with 414 points.
This wasn’t a fluke. Takale had already won the Prologue stage, which gave him pole position heading into Stage 1. That Prologue run covered 96 km with a 22 km special stage, and finishing 35th overall in the Cars category set him up perfectly for what came next.
The Stage That Made History
Stage 1 ran from Yanbu to Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. The special stage alone was 305 km of punishing terrain. Soft dunes, tricky navigation, relentless heat. This is where rally dreams die.
Takale didn’t just survive it. He controlled it. His pace was consistent, his navigation sharp, and his tactical decisions spot on. For a discipline where mechanical failures and navigation errors end campaigns in minutes, that kind of composure is rare.
This Isn’t His First Rodeo
Takale has been racing professionally for over 30 years. He has more than 75 wins across national and international events. In 2013, he took the Asia Pacific Rally Championship Production Cup. The guy knows how to drive fast and finish races.
Last year, he became the first Indian to complete the entire Dakar Rally. He ran in the Dakar Classic category with a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78 and finished 18th overall. He even scored a top five result in the final stage. That was huge. But this? This is bigger.
Dakar Classic is tough, but the modern Cars category is a different beast entirely. The competition is fiercer, the machinery more advanced, and the stakes higher. Winning a stage here means beating some of the best rally raid drivers in the world.
What This Means for Indian Motorsport
Indian motorsport doesn’t get the same attention as cricket or badminton. But results like this change the conversation. Takale is backed by French team Compagnie Saharienne, which shows he’s earned respect on the international stage. That’s not easy for a driver from a country where rally infrastructure is still catching up.
His win also opens doors. Young Indian drivers now have a template. They can see that Dakar isn’t just a European or South American playground. It’s possible. You just need the skill, the funding, and the guts to show up.
Is He Done Yet?
Takale has already secured two victories in two stages at Dakar 2026. The event runs for two weeks, and anything can happen. Mechanical failures, crashes, navigation mistakes. Dakar doesn’t care about your momentum.
But if Takale keeps this pace, he’s not just making history. He’s rewriting what Indian drivers can achieve on the global stage. And honestly? That’s worth watching.
Monojit Paul is the founder and editor of techautohub.com. He covers India’s automotive industry, focusing on new launches, cars, bikes, and market trends.
