Stephanie Rowe hopes to race the Dakar Rally for the first time in 2026, but her efforts to get there now have increased urgency. Due to impending knee surgery that is expected to require an extended recovery, she is especially keen on qualifying for the rally and taking part beforehand.

She wrote in an Instagram post made Tuesday:

Before Christmas I had a 10 year check up after the major surgery I had on my right knee from a bad motorcycle crash, I’ve found out both my knees now need surgery. The ‘good one’ has overcompensated for too long — and now has osteoarthritis and I need patella realignment surgery. The right which has already had 6 surgeries needs a tidy up and if still symptomatic another osteotomy.

It’s a punch in the guts and hard to accept. But I’ve come back from worse. And I’m not ready to stop chasing my dream.

Here’s the plan:

I’m going to try my absolute best to get to Dakar this year. It might be my only shot before surgery sidelines me for a long recovery.

I spoke to my surgeon and he agrees and even advises—its better to go for it now as there no guarantees how good things will be afterwards.

I’ve worked so hard to build my experience and qualify, and now I’m hoping all that grit and desert racing experience gets me an entry.

This girl has a dream — and she’s not giving up.

Rowe had dreamed of racing at Dakar, though her plans were delayed following the aforementioned motorcycle accident. Since then, she has been doing a myriad of rallies to qualify such as the Africa Eco Race and Rallye du Maroc.

In January, she finished 34th in class at the Africa Eco Race. Rowe is the first woman to complete the race solo in the Motul Xtreme Rider class (the AER’s version of Dakar’s Original by Motul or Malle Moto).

She has also been doing the Rallye du Maroc since 2023. After retiring in 2023 due to a crash, Rowe finished 74th in Rally2 and third for Women Trophy riders at the 2024 edition.

Featured image credit: Alessio Corradini