After a prologue executed according to plan, Maria Luís Gameiro faced today the first real test of the Dakar Rally 2026, an exacting loop starting and finishing in Yanbu. The Portuguese driver, at the wheel of the X-Raid MINI JCW T1+ and navigated by Spain’s Rosa Romero, posted the 56th time in the Ultimate category after 305 km against the clock, plus 213 km of liaison, on a day where the main goal was to avoid mistakes, read the terrain well and keep building confidence in both the car and the navigation.
The Stage 1 route mixed more technical sectors with higher-speed zones, in a typical Dakar opener: selective enough to expose weaknesses, yet still far from the extreme toughness of the days ahead. Over the kilometres, Maria Luís and Rosa managed risk in the trickiest areas, but couldn’t avoid two punctures that compromised their final time. However, the biggest challenge was felt inside the MINI’s cockpit. An air-conditioning failure pushed interior temperatures to unbearable levels, forcing the crew to slow down and further impacting the final stage result.
At the end of the stage, Maria Luís was physically exhausted but satisfied with the result, despite the challenges faced and overcome:
“We finished this demanding first day with mixed feelings. It was a day of ups and downs, with a lot of heat. We had two punctures that cost us a lot of time, but the worst part was the MINI’s air-conditioning failure. The air coming into the cockpit was even hotter than outside and raised the temperature to unbearable levels. I had to slow down because we started feeling unwell. As we drove more slowly, the SSVs began catching us, which compromised visibility. More stops, more dust, more delays. I know that without those setbacks we could have done much better, but the time ended up not being as bad as we expected. Still, today was useful to fine-tune a few things inside the car and in the way we manage the race. Finally, we also received a two-minute penalty due to a mistake in a speed-control zone, but nothing serious and with no major impact on our performance. There’s so much Dakar still ahead that this time loss is nothing more than a ‘grain of sand’.”
The first chapter of this magnificent epic has now been written. Maria Luís has a clear plan for these opening days and is following it rigorously. There are many kilometres still to come, and the key is to ensure all conditions are in place to finish the rally—at a competitive pace, but with smart management. Still, it’s worth noting the physical demands of this first day.
Tomorrow, 5 January, the scene changes. Stage 2 leaves the Yanbu area and heads north towards the majestic landscapes of AlUla—400 timed kilometres across varied and unforgiving terrain. It will be a stage where the pace will change constantly, especially over the first 200 km, with faster sections interspersed with rocky stretches that can cause punctures and/or mechanical damage.
AlUla, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its archaeological landscapes and ancient rock formations, will be the reward at the finish—but getting there will require smart tyre management, controlled pace and flawless navigation from Rosa Romero. Maria Luís will aim to maintain her strategy of avoiding excess and respecting the mechanics—lessons learned during the 2025 Dakar.
Source: Maria Luis Gameiro official press release
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