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The 2026 Dakar Classic kicked off today with Stage 1 in Yanbu, and already Italian competitors have stolen the spotlight. In the classic car category, Marco Ernesto Leva and Alexia Giugni powered their Mitsubishi Pajero to the top of the overall standings after the opening leg of the rally.
The Italian duo set the fastest cumulative time in the H1 class, beating a talented international field and earning the early leader’s position in this historic rally raid for vintage vehicles. Following them were the Indonesian-Lithuanian crew Baridwan / Daunoravi?ius in second and Raisys / Marques in third.
Several other Italian crews also posted strong results in their respective categories, underscoring Italy’s competitive presence in the first step of this grueling event.
With 13 total stages planned for the 2026 Dakar Classic, this is just the beginning of a long and demanding rally through Saudi Arabia’s challenging terrain.
