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WRC to return to UK in 2027 : Rally Scotland

March 17, 2026 by TomBoyNI

The FIA World Rally Championship will return to the United Kingdom in 2027 with the introduction of WRC Rally Scotland, marking the series’ comeback to one of rallying’s most historic territories.

Developed in partnership with Motorsport UK, the new gravel-based event will be based in north-east Scotland, with rally headquarters and service park facilities located at the state-of-the-art P&J Live complex in Aberdeen. Stages will run across the surrounding regions of Aberdeenshire and Moray.

The agreement forms an initial three-year deal beginning in 2027 and ends an eight-year absence for the championship in the UK, following the most recent running of Wales Rally GB in 2019.

Scotland’s dramatic landscapes and world-class forest roads are expected to provide a spectacular sporting challenge for the WRC’s leading drivers and manufacturers, while the region’s infrastructure and transport links offer a strong platform for teams, media and fans attending the event.

The rally has been secured through a partnership between Motorsport UK, WRC Promoter and the Scottish Government, with support from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils. Together, the stakeholders aim to establish Rally Scotland as a major international sporting event delivering significant economic and tourism benefits for the region.

2026 Dakar Results & Week 2 Summary

January 19, 2026 by TomBoyNI

2026 Dakar Results & Week 2 Summary :

2026 Dakar Rally – Week 2 Summary

Saudi Arabia, January 10 – 17, 2026
By TomBoyNI

Check out what you missed from the first week of the 2026 Dakar Rally.

After a frenetic first week of navigation tests, marathon challenges and multiple leaderboard shakeups, the 48th Dakar Rally charged into its second week with everything still to play for. With dunes raising temperatures and spirits alike, the second marathon stage and final five specials delivered drama, strategy, heartbreak and history – true to the spirit that has made Dakar the world’s toughest motorsport adventure.

Official results and standings are taken from the Dakar website and verified race reporting.

Images from Red Bull Content Pool.

Stage 8 – Wadi ad-Dawasir Loop

January 12

2026 Dakar Week 1 Summary

January 10, 2026 by TomBoyNI

Saudi Arabia, January ₃ – ₉, 2026

As the dust settles over Riyadh for the traditional mid-point Rest Day, the 2026 Dakar Rally has already lived up to its reputation as the world’s most gruelling race. From the labyrinthine canyons of AlUla to the daunting dunes of the Empty Quarter, the first week has been a masterclass in survival, navigation, and raw speed.

Here is the TBNI.Blog mid-rally report on the state of play as we head into the decisive second week.

Stéphane PETERHANSEL and Michaël METGE during the Stage 6 of the Dakar 2026 on January 9, 2026 between Ha’il and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Official results and standings are taken from the Dakar website and verified race reporting.

Images from Red Bull Content Pool.

The Big Story: Precision vs. Attrition

The first half of the 2026 edition has been defined by the razor-thin margins in the Motorbike category and a changing of the guard in the Cars. While the heavy hitters have largely kept their machines in one piece, the “Marathon” stages have already claimed several high-profile victims.

The story of the week is undoubtedly the resurgence of Daniel “Chucky” Sanders. After a victory in 2025, the Australian has shown immense composure, fending off a ferocious four-pronged attack from the Monster Energy Honda HRC squad. In the Car category, the debut of The Dacia Sandriders has turned the leaderboard on its head, with Nasser Al-Attiyah proving that a new manufacturer doesn’t mean a slower pace.

2026 Dakar UK Coverage

January 4, 2026January 3, 2026 by TomBoyNI

2026 Dakar UK Coverage :

One of the more exciting events in motorsports is coming. The perfect way to bring in the New Year! The 48th Edition of the Dakar is about to start!

The Start Ramp and Prologue will be held on Saturday 3rd January 2026, with Stage 1 taking place on Sunday 4th January 2026.

The Dakar is one of the, if not the, most famous endurance races on the planet and with everything from bikes to trucks taking on one of the toughest navigation rallies ever conceived there is something for every genre of motorsport fan.

This year the route has been described by the Dakar Organisation as :

With the 2026 edition’s route, we are certainly at the highest standards, as the record for kilometres covered in special stages, in the time the rally has been held in Saudi Arabia, will be nearly matched. Drivers and crews will not escape fatigue, and they must also demonstrate their skill in handling all types of sand, and tracks of all kinds. On the other hand, the decision to reduce the number of bivouacs means they will be greeted by support teams that are more often rested and ready to go as soon as they arrive.
Along with the variety of challenges, a concern for balance also guided the route’s design. Therefore, the introduction of a new variant of marathon stages, with an overnight stay in a bivouac, required that one be set up in the middle of each week of the race. Similarly, intense stages are followed by opportunities to take a breather on both sides of the rest day, while not striving for absolute symmetry.

YANBU, A REGULAR STOP
Dakar competitors became acquainted with Yanbu in the final stretch of the 2021 edition. And it was also near this town that the first Sea Camp was established in 2023, adopting the concept of an XXL bivouac that brought together all the event’s participants in one location in the days leading up to the race. Since then, Yanbu has also hosted the final stage of the 2024 Dakar Rally. It is now the starting point for a vast loop, which will end as it begins: to the sound of the gentle lapping of the Red Sea waves.

2026 Dakar Route :

Dakar Future Mission 1000

May 19, 2024 by TomBoyNI

Dakar Future Mission 1000 :

The Dakar Future Mission 1000 is a new initiative introduced as part of the Dakar Future programme. This mission offers constructors an opportunity to test vehicles with innovative technologies on Dakar terrain. The challenge will run for 100 km separate from the stages, adding up to 1,000 km.

Three engine types have been selected for Mission 1000: fully electric, fully hydrogen-powered, and hybrid technology. Entrants need to complete the entire route to score a grand total of 100 points in the challenge and will lose points for each unfinished stage.

Vehicles will be awarded points for driving skills depending on how their actual performances stack up against the established reference time. There are three modes: Eco Mode (+ 10% over the reference time and beyond), Normal Mode (within 5% of the reference time), and Sport Mode (−10% and under). Each mode awards different points.

In addition to this, there’s a unique timed challenge called “Launch Control” where the vehicles will break into a 100 m sprint from a standing start. The top-ranked entrant in each of the car and motorbike categories will be awarded 10 bonus points.

2025 Dakar Rally Announced

May 19, 2024 by TomBoyNI

2025 Dakar Rally Announced :

The 2025 Dakar Rally, the world’s most grueling and prestigious off-road endurance race, is set to take place from January 3rd to 17th, 2025. This year’s rally promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with several new features designed to challenge the competitors and captivate the audience.

2025 Dakar Rally Changes :

The first major change is the increased emphasis on navigation. The organizers have decided to make the rally more challenging by adding more navigation stages. This means that the competitors will need to rely more on their navigational skills and less on speed. This change is expected to level the playing field and make the race more unpredictable and exciting.

The second major change is the separation of stages for cars, bikes, and trucks. This is a significant departure from previous years, where all vehicles competed on the same stages. The separation of stages is expected to make the race safer and more competitive, as each class of vehicle will have stages designed specifically for them.

The 2025 Dakar Rally will also feature a mass start, a 48-hour Chrono stage, and a marathon stage. The mass start will see all competitors start the race at the same time, creating a thrilling spectacle for the spectators. The 48-hour Chrono stage will test the endurance and resilience of the competitors, as they will have to race non-stop for two days. The marathon stage, on the other hand, will be a test of the competitors’ mechanical skills, as they will have to service their vehicles without any assistance from their teams.

2023 Down Rally Schedule :

July 20, 2023 by TomBoyNI

2023 Down Rally Schedule :

The Official Down Rally Facebook Page has made this handy schedule for reference for what is going on, where and when for this year’s Down Rally which will run over Saturday 21st July 2023. They have also released the following info in conjunction with the schedule below :

“We’ve been receiving lots of queries regarding our weekend’s event, so we’ve made out a schedule to show everything we have to offer across tomorrow and Saturday!

Don’t miss out on our family fun activities in the centre of Lisburn, where both runs of Drumaknockan and Hamilton’s Folly will be live broadcast on the big screen. Fancy being close to the action? We have parking available right next to our world class jump at the Folly – it’s certainly not a weekend to be missed!

For those looking for more information regarding our stages: we have ideal spectator zones marked out on stage maps, which are all available in our programmes for sale in a number of local shops, as well as on Friday night at the Ceremonial Start.

The countdown is on: less than 24 hours before we kick things off in Market Square tomorrow night!! “

Special Stage Rally Video will also be there, and the broadcast will be available for all to watch from 09:00 hours on the big screen at Market Square, Lisburn.

2022 Dakar Route Confirmed

May 14, 2021 by TomBoyNI

2022 Dakar Route Confirmed

The 2022 Dakar Route has been confirmed and this ‘Edition’ will follow a point to point style taking competitors from Ha’il to Jeddah through the ‘Empty Quarter’ of Saudi Arabi.

The event will run from 2nd – 14th January 2021.

Saudi Arabia offers an immense variety of wide open spaces and unique places to satisfy this thirst, even for the most demanding.

In terms of terrain, the route of the 2022 edition will be characterised in particular by a push into the Empty Quarter: a vast expanse of desert with sands and dunes that beckon the drivers and crews of the rally.

Lurgan Park Rally 2017 – Cancelled.

March 11, 2017 by TomBoyNI

Yet another motorsport event falls victim to spiralling costs, increased Health and Safety requirements and ultimately lack of funding.

At this rate only the big players such as Formula 1, and Moto GP will survive and we will be stuck with what YouTube reminds us of our local events, when motorsports were there for all, to be attended and enjoyed by all.

The Club want the event back for 2018 – I really hope that happens, but unfortunately I see this as another step on the slippery slope to the end of local motorsports. At least thanks to these ever increasing Health and Safety Standards we will all be absolutely safe, contained in our life preserving bubbles, I wonder what the view will be like though, hopefully not too bright as that could damage our retinas! H&S will need to look at that!

Read the full article here : http://www.lurganmail.co.uk/sport/more-sport/north-armagh-club-forced-to-cancel-lurgan-park-rally-1-7861313

Dakar 2016 Routes and Stages Unveiled… The Odyssey!

April 28, 2015 by TomBoyNI

Some day I will be doing this! Until such a time all I can do is follow it, and here is what I / we will be following in January 2016!

★OFFICIAL 2016 DAKAR ROUTE★

Today, the stages of the 2016 edition have been unveiled in Argentina:
3/01 – Stage 1: Lima – Pisco
4/01 – Stage 2: Pisco – Nazca
5/01 – Stage 3: Nazca – Arequipa
6/01 – Stage 4: Arequipa – Lago Titicaca
7/01 – Stage 5: Lago Titicaca – Oruro
8/01 – Stage 6: Oruro – Uyuni
9/01 – Stage 7: Uyuni – Salta
11/01 – Stage 8: Salta – Belén
12/01 – Stage 9: Belén – Belén
13/01 – Stage 10: Belén – La Rioja
14/01 – Stage 11: La Rioja – San Juan
15/01 – Stage 12: San Juan – Villa Carlos Paz
16/01 – Stage 13: Villa Carlos Paz – Rosario
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#‎Dakar2016‬

2026 Dakar Rally – Week 2 Summary

Check out what you missed from the first week of the 2026 Dakar Rally.

Stage 8 – Wadi ad-Dawasir Loop

The Big Story: Precision vs. Attrition

2026 Dakar Route :

2025 Dakar Rally Changes :

2022 Dakar Route Confirmed

Disclosure :