Harith Noah set for seventh Dakar Rally, eyes another historic run

Indian rally-raid star Harith Noah is all set to take on the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally, marking his seventh appearance at one of the toughest motorsport events in the world. The rally begins on Saturday and will run until J anuary 17, returning to Saudi Arabia for the sixth consecutive year.

Noah, 32, from Kerala, will represent India astride his TVS Sherco RTR 450. The event kicks off with a short prologue in Yanbu on January 3, which will determine the starting order for the main rally. Over the next two weeks, riders will cover nearly 8,000 kilometres, including aroun d 4,800 kilometres of high-speed timed Selective Sections across dunes, rocky terrains, and harsh plateaus. The rally includes a single rest day on January 10 in Riyadh, allowing competitors a brief chance to recover before the final push.

A five-time Indian National Supercross Champion, Noah last won a national title in 2018 before focusing entirely on rally-raid events from 2019. He made his Dakar debut in 2020 when the rally first moved to Saudi Arabia. His historic Rally 2 class victory in 2025, the first by an Indian rider at Dakar remains a highlight of his career, even though last year he was forced to withdraw after a crash in the prologue.

Reflecting on past challenges, Noah said, “Mistakes will happen. It's about how you deal with them. Dakar can end before it begins if you get injured, and that’s tough mentally. But I can’t change what’s done. My focus is on giving my best, learning from mistakes, and improving, not just chasing results.”

With experience, skill, and determination on his side, Harith Noah aims to once again make India proud on the world’s toughest rally stage.