Al-Attiyah, Loeb, Sarrazin… Who will be at the start of the Portugal rally-raid?

Exactly two months after the Dakar Rally, the world championship of rally-raid makes its return with the second event of the 2026 season: the Portugal rally-raid.

The third edition of the Portuguese event promises to be particularly challenging. From March 17th to 22nd, the world's best rally-raid specialists will meet between Portugal and the Spanish region of Extremadura.

Organised by the Automóvel Club de Portugal, the competition will begin in Grândola before ending in Loulé, after a week of technical special stages laid out between Portuguese tracks and Spanish terrain.

The car category will bring together several factory teams, notably Dacia, which will cease operations at the end of this season. ToyotaFord, Ebro and Defender.

The overwhelming favorite will be Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia). The Qatari arrives in Portugal as the leader of the world championship after his victory in the Dakar Rally. He currently leads Mattias Ekström (Ford) in the standings.

However, the competition will be particularly fierce. Among the main contenders are the reigning world champion and defending winner of the event, Lucas Moraes (Dacia), but also Sébastien Loeb (Dacia), Carlos Sainz (Ford) or even Toyota drivers Yazeed Al Rajhi and Henk Lategan.

ALSO READ > Sébastien Loeb: "Just because Dacia decides to stop doesn't mean I'm going to do the same."

The event also attracts almost all the favorites in the Challenger and SSV categories. Stéphane Sarrazin will be at the starting line in the former category, driving a Minotor CH1 from Vaison Motorsport.

The Stock category, reserved for vehicles closest to the series, will see Defender enter a full team including Stéphane Peterhansel.

Discover the list of entrants for the Portugal rally-raid HERE