We highlight all the South Africans competing in the 2026 Dakar Rally.
The 2026 Dakar Rally kicked off on 3 January, with over 560 competitors – drivers, navigators and mechanics – representing over 45 nationalities, vying for top honours in the respective categories of the 48th Dakar Rally. We highlight the South Africans competing in this year’s Dakar Rally.
South Africans competing in the T1+ category of the 2026 Dakar Rally
In the T1+ category, seven South Africans, including drivers and navigators, are competing for top honours at the 2026 Dakar Rally. Racing for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA), Guy Botterill entered the world of motorsport at the age of 10; making his debut in the 60cc GP Junior Category. Since then, Botterill has competed in various motorsport disciplines, including the Polo Cup and Can-Am series.
Born in 2005, Saood Variawa made his Dakar Rally debut in 2024 at the age of 18; finishing 17th overall. “For Dakar this year, the goal is to maintain a good pace and try and push when needed and bring it to the end of the Dakar hopefully within the Top 10. That’s my aim,” said Variawa.
Racing for Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC, Henk Lategan took part in his first regional motorsport event as co-driver for his father, Hein Lategan, at the age of 15. Less than 10 years later, Lategan became the youngest driver to win the SA off-road rally championship. Sitting opposite side Lategan as navigator in their Hilux Dakar Rally racer is South African Brett Cummings.
This year, SA’s Brian Baragwanath is competing in his eighth Dakar Rally. Baragwanath, who is racing for Century Racing Factory Team, is joined by navigator Leonard Cremer. Stuart Gregory, navigator for German driver Jürgen Schröder, was born in 1977. Gregory’s Dakar Rally career started in 2019.
- Guy Botterill – Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa
- Saood Variawa – Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa
- Henk Lategan – Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC
- Brett Cummings – Navigator, Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC
- Brian Baragwanath – Driver, Century Racing Factory Team
- Leonard Cremer – Navigator, Century Racing Factory Team
- Stuart Gregory – Navigator, PS Laser Racing
South Africans competing in the Bike category of the 2026 Dakar Rally
Three South Africans are competing in the Bike category of this year’s Dakar Rally. Born in 1998, Bradley Cox is the youngest of the trio. A multiple enduro and motorcross champion, Cox made his Dakar Rally debut in 2022. Racing for Sherco Rally Factory Team, this is Cox’s fifth Dakar Rally.
Michael Docherty, who competes for BAS World KTM Team, was born in Johannesburg in 1994, though grew up in Malawi until the age of seven, before returning to SA, where he started racing motorcycles and won the SA National 65cc Championship at just eight years old.
Born in 1980 in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, Ronald Venter joined the national racing circuit at the age of 18. Venter made his Dakar Rally debut in 2024. Racing for Team Nomade Racing, this is Venter’s second Dakar Rally.
- Bradley Cox – Sherco Rally Factory Team
- Michael Docherty – BAS World KTM Team
- Ronald Venter – Team Nomade Racing
South Africans competing in the SSV category of the 2026 Dakar Rally
A duo of South Africans are representing SA as navigators in the SVV category – Leander Pienaar, navigator for Saudi driver Abdullah Al-Fahad for Dark Horse Team, and Dennis Murphy, navigator for Lawrence Janesky (US) for South Racing Can-Am.
- Leander Pienaar – Navigator, Dark Horse Team
- Dennis Murphy – Navigator, South Racing Can-Am
South Africans competing in the Truck category of the 2026 Dakar Rally
Alongside driver Tomas Tomecek and navigator Tomas Kazarka is experienced mechanic Grant Ballington, who has already done four Dakar Rallies with the South Racing Can-AM outfit.
- Grant Ballington – Mechanic, South Racing Can-Am
South Africans competing in the Stock category of the 2026 Dakar Rally
Sean Berriman sits opposite side Sara Price as the American’s navigator for the Defender Rally team. Berriman claimed victory at the 2020 Dakar Rally as co-driver for Casey Currie in the SSV category. Born in SA in 1992, Berriman relocated to the US with his parents a few years later, in 1998. It is worth noting that this SA-born navigator has ‘USA’ next to his name on the 2026 Dakar Rally competitors list.
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