Should things work out, Dania Akeel hopes to be in the top rally raid category by the 2026 Dakar Rally. In the meantime, her focus will once again be on the Taurus T3 Max.

Akeel had plans of moving up from Challenger in 2025, racing a Toyota Hilux for Overdrive Racing in both the Saudi Toyota Championship and World Rally-Raid Championship. She had already been dabbling in the Hilux in the former series throughout 2024, but eventually decided to push back the graduation by a year as she continues to hone her skills.

“I found it useful to drive both cars in the same season because the transition to Ultimate must happen at the right time when I have the necessary level to compete,” Akeel explained to An-Nahar. “In order to gain experience and get used to the Ultimate car, I used it in the Saudi rallies, and in addition drove the Challenger in the World Championship.

“This strategy worked for me, and I hope to move to the Ultimate car in 2026 when I am ready for the full transition.”

One of the first Saudi women to race the Dakar Rally when she debuted in 2022, Akeel finished fifth in the 2024 W2RC Challenger standings with a best run of third at the Rallye du Maroc. Her third Dakar was marred by a clutch failure during the Chrono Stage that relegated her to 27th in class by the end.

She also became the first female driver to win the FIA Middle East Baja Cup overall, which she clinched in a Can-Am Maverick at the season-ending Dubai International Baja.

Akeel will race the 2025 Dakar Rally for BBR Motorsport.

Credit: Kin Marcin / Red Bull Content Pool