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At the 2026 Dakar Rally, Polaris showcased its strength on the global off-road stage, securing a historic third consecutive victory in the SSV class and a second under the LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport – RZR Factory Racing banner. In a gruelling 8,000-kilometre test of endurance across Saudi Arabia, Polaris delivered a masterclass performance, culminating in a win and third place for the RZR Pro R Rally within the final standings, as well as strong finishes throughout the order with our partner teams Santag Racing, TH-Trucks, and Old Friends Rally Team.
LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport – RZR Factory Racing
Defending champion Brock Heger and co-driver Max Eddy Jr. piloted their #401 RZR to a resounding overall victory, leading for the majority of the rally and claiming six stage wins. Heger controlled the pace from the Prologue to the chequered flag to secure his second back-to-back Dakar title with Polaris.
“Coming back to Dakar for my second year and being able to win again is absolutely incredible, and I could not be more grateful for Polaris, LFM and our entire crew,” said Brock Heger. “This race pushes you in every possible way, and to come out on top again is something I’m really proud of. Max and I work seamlessly together. His navigation was spot on from start to finish, and that trust and communication between us made all the difference over two demanding weeks. The RZR Pro R Rally performed flawlessly every single day. It’s a machine that’s truly unmatched, and it just keeps getting better and better. Having a vehicle you can trust completely at Dakar is everything, and Polaris delivered exactly that.”
The LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport – RZR Factory Racing crews demonstrated exceptional depth of talent throughout the rally. Xavier de Soultrait, piloting the #407 entry, fought back from mechanical setbacks in the second week to secure third place overall, ensuring two Polaris crews stood on the final podium.
Eight-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson predictably proved to be a fast learner in his Dakar debut. Alongside co-driver Ola Fløene, he secured multiple stage podiums, including a P2 on the final stage, to finish 8th overall, marking a highly successful rookie campaign for the #420 crew.
The team also celebrated the efforts of Portuguese driver Gonçalo Guerreiro, who claimed a stage win, two podium finishes, and three additional top-five stage results, before a crash in Stage 8 forced his withdrawal. We are united in wishing Gonçalo all the best in his recovery. Florent Vayssade displayed remarkable resilience; despite falling back late in the rally due to an engine change, he completed the course as a finisher, highlighting the team’s determined spirit to cross the finish line after a testing week on the dunes.
“To kick off the new year with a third consecutive Dakar Rally victory is truly an incredible achievement for both Polaris and Loeb FrayMedia Motorsport,” said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris’ Director of Off-Road Motorsports. “This partnership has been the recipe for dominance at Dakar, and to come away victorious again is incredibly rewarding. Because of the new rule changes in the SSV class, the team spent countless days and nights over the past year refining and evolving our platform. Seeing Brock and Max deliver another virtually flawless performance, along with Xavier securing a third-place finish on the podium, is a true testament to that hard work. They overcame some of the most intense conditions imaginable, and I can’t thank everyone at Polaris and LFM enough for the dedication and effort that made this victory possible.”
Santag Racing
Polaris partner teams were equally pivotal in our 2026 effort as they proved the reliability of the RZR Pro R platform across the field, with partner crews battling through the Saudi Desert to secure strong finishes.
Competing with the RZR Pro R Factory developed by Santag Racing, Old Friends Rally Team’s Sebastian Guayasamin secured a strong P11 finish, while teammate and 2025 W2RC SSV World Champion Alexandre Pinto was forced to withdraw on Stage 10, although he showed early speed with a commendable P2 finish on the first stage of the rally.
Speaking after the race, Alexandre displayed maturity and confidence in his reflections on the 2026 event: “We leave Saudi Arabia with our heads held high. We take with us a huge amount of learning and the certainty that we are competitive, that we have the pace and ability to fight for victory. Now it’s time to accept, learn, close this chapter, and focus on coming back even stronger”
Santag Racing claimed a tremendous P3 finish on Stage 2 with João Dias and Daniel Jordão, but the #424 crew were unfortunately faced with the mid-rally withdrawal later on. Helder Rodrigues flew the flag across the line for the Portuguese team, fighting through to finish P23.
“The Dakar is unforgiving, but we proved our speed as a team this year”, noted David Vieira, Team Principal of Santag Racing. “To see our crews fighting at the front, including a fantastic stage podium for João Dias, showed what we are capable of. While we faced some tough luck with retirements, Helder showed the true fighting spirit of Santag Racing by battling through to the finish. We take the positives, the speed, and the lessons into the next season.”
TH-Trucks Rally Team
TH-Trucks put together a commendable effort at the Dakar this year. Rui Silva drove a consistent race to finish P16, with Domingo Roman crossing the line in P25. The 2026 Dakar Rally once again showcased Polaris vehicles’ capability to conquer the world’s toughest terrain and deliver championship titles among the toughest competitors in the off-road world.
Dakar Rally 2026 Final Overall Standings: Polaris SSV Lineup
- P1: #401 B. Heger / M. Eddy, LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport – RZR Factory Racing: 55:11:56
- P3: #407 X. De Soultrait / M. Bonnet, LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport – RZR Factory Racing: 56:37:21 (+01:25:25)
- P8: #420 J. Kristoffersson / O. Floene, LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport – RZR Factory Racing: 59:12:20 (+04:00:24)
- P11: #403 S. Guayasamin / P. Ros, Old Friends Rally Team: 65:06:43 (+09:54:47)
- P16: #440 R. Silva / F. Albuquerque, TH Trucks Team: 65:06:43 (+16:18:44)
- P23: #417 H. Rodrigues / G. Reis, Santag Racing: 110:39:08 (+55:27:12)
- P24: #412 F. Vayssade / N. Rey, LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport – RZR Factory Racing: 120:23:14 (+65:11:18)
- P25: #423 D. Roman / D. Bravo, TH Trucks Team 120:23:14 (+68:11:13)
- Withdrawn Stage 10: #400 A. Pinto / B. Oliveira, Old Friends Rally Team
- Withdrawn Stage 10: #424 J. Dias / D. Jordao, Santag Racing
- Withdrawn Stage 10: #438 B. Martins / E. Adão, Santag Racing
- Withdrawn Stage 8: #404 G. Guerreiro / M. Justo, LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport – RZR Factory Racing
Follow all of our teams on social media here:
- Polaris Off Road: Follow your country’s Polaris Off Road channel
- LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport – RZR Factory Racing: Instagram & Facebook: @loebfraymediamotorsport
- TH Trucks: Facebook: @thtrucksteam / Instagram: @thtrucks_team
- Santag Racing: Instagram & Facebook: @santagracing
- Old Friends Rally Team: @oldfriendsrallyteam
About Polaris:
As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris’ high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman® all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; ; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoon. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.
