The 2026 Africa Eco Race will be the first leg of the Apache Cup, a “race within a race” that pits Apache APH-03 drivers against each other.

The Apache Cup was revealed in July. It is in essence a subcategory of the Challenger and T3.U classes, exclusively for drivers competing with the APH-03. The premise is simple: be the highest finishing Apache driver.

Those signed up for the Cup will receive “optmized entry fees” courtesy of Apache Automotive, as well as factory support and assistance.

Yamaha operates a similar premise for Challenger competition with the YXZ1000R Cup, which appears at FIA European Baja Cup races. The Hungarian Cross-Country Rally Championship also has a new PowerRace Cup for SSVs in the UP class.

Set to run from January 24 to February 7, the Africa Eco Race was the site of Apache’s first marathon rally raid in 2024. Gautier Paulin won that race’s four-wheel overall with the APH-01. Apache opted to go to the Dakar Rally for 2025, where Antoine Meo finished 34th in class.

Featured image credit: Antonin Vincent / DPPI / ASO