With the twelfth and final stage, the Africa Eco Race 2026 officially came to an end near the city of Dakar. In the early morning, competitors gathered on the beach for the traditional mass start of the untimed special. Not long after, the caravan reached the shores of Lac Rose, where engines fell silent and made way for euphoria, pride, and emotional moments. The arrival at the lake remains a special one each year and marks the true end of the journey.
Winners of 2026
The seventeenth edition of the Africa Eco Race will be remembered as one of the most thrilling in recent years. In several categories, the gaps remained small until the final stage, with frequent changes in the overall standings.
In the bike category, the overall win went to Kevin Gallas on Yamaha. After nearly two weeks of racing, his lead over Gautier Paulin was just 41 seconds – an exceptionally narrow margin in rally raid. The duel between the two Yamaha riders remained unresolved until the final day, highlighting the high level and consistency of both competitors. Jean Loup Lepan completed the overall podium 16 minutes and 8 seconds behind, rewarded for his fighting spirit and improved navigation throughout the rally.
In the car category, victory went to David Gérard in the MD Optimus. He drove a controlled and low-error rally in which consistency proved decisive. Gérard finished with a lead of 1 hour and 29 minutes over Christian Femont in the Mini Cooper X Raid. Vincent Vroninks guided his Red Lined VK56 to third place, 1 hour and 49 minutes behind. The car category was defined by tight competition, where a single mistake could lead to significant time losses.
Dutch success in SSV and trucks
This edition proved particularly successful for the Dutch teams. In the SSV category, the overall win went to Martijn van den Broek in the Can-Am Maverick 1000R. He carefully extended his lead day by day and ultimately won with a margin of 47 minutes and 44 seconds over Martin Benko. Sander Derikx completed the podium 1 hour and 26 minutes back. Van den Broek drove with composure and discipline, slowed down where necessary, and avoided mistakes in the heavy Mauritanian dunes. Derikx fought for every second until the end and confirmed his strong rally with third place. Marcel van Berlo, also from the Netherlands, reached the finish as well, achieving the goal he had set for himself: completing the rally.
In the truck category, Dutch dominance was equally clear. Gerrit Zuurmond took the win in his MAN TGA after a rally where reliability, experience, and strategy were key. He finished well ahead of Martin Roeterdink in the DAF CF, who took second place, 33 hours and 45 minutes behind. Mike Panhuijzen completed the all-Dutch podium with his MAN TGA, finishing 40 hours and 50 minutes back. The truck category once again showcased what it is known for: not just speed, but also camaraderie and mutual respect among teams.
Historic class and the soul of the rally
The Historic category once again delivered a unique spectacle and stayed true to the spirit of classic African rallies. The overall win went to Jorge Perez Companc and Ezequiel Perez Companc in the Toyota HDJ 80. Dirk Van Rompuy and Jan Rosa finished second, followed by Pierre Bourdeau and Bruno Domy. In this class, absolute speed plays a lesser role, with greater emphasis on preserving the heritage of rally raid.
More than a competition
Day after day, competitors faced rocky tracks in Morocco, vast dunes in Mauritania, and the fatigue of long, hot stages. They made navigation mistakes, got stuck in the sand, and endured short nights – but also shared bivouacs under the stars, helped each other, and experienced moments of true solidarity. The Africa Eco Race is more than a race against the clock. It is a journey, a human challenge, and a battle with oneself and the environment.
When the competitors arrived at Lac Rose, it wasn’t only the winners who crossed the finish line. It was people who had accomplished something extraordinary together. That exact feeling, reaching the end together, is what makes this final stage one of the most meaningful moments of the Africa Eco Race.
