American Horsepower Reigns Supreme In The SSV Class At The 2026 Dakar Rally

American engineering and driver excellence once again stood atop the world’s toughest off-road race as Polaris RZR Factory Racing, in partnership with LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport (LFM), secured its third consecutive Side-by-Side (SSV) overall victory at the 48th running of the Dakar Rally. Competing against the harshest terrain and the deepest field in the sport, Brock Heger and navigator Max Eddy Jr. delivered back-to-back Dakar wins.

After nearly 5,000 kilometers (3,045 miles) of competition spread across 13 punishing stages in Saudi Arabia, the all-American duo once again proved unstoppable behind the wheel of the Polaris RZR Pro R Rally—an SSV engineered to comply with new FIA regulations.

A Commanding Performance In The World’s Toughest Race

Widely regarded as the most demanding motorsport event on the planet, the Dakar Rally tests competitors physically, mentally, and mechanically. Heger and Eddy rose to the challenge from the outset, leading nearly the entire event and ultimately securing victory by more than an hour. In only his second Dakar appearance, Heger delivered a historic showing, claiming an unprecedented six stage wins, including the prologue.

Beyond those victories, Heger added two additional podium finishes, two more top-five results, and finished outside the top five just four times across the entire rally. When the final timing clocks stopped, the pair completed the marathon rally in 55 hours, 11 minutes, and 56 seconds—more than four hours faster than last year’s winning pace.

Adding to Polaris’ success, SLR teammate and reigning 2024 SSV champion Xavier de Soultrait rounded out the overall podium with a third-place finish, also driving a Polaris RZR Pro R Rally.

Early Momentum Sets The Tone

For the second consecutive year, Heger made an immediate statement by winning the prologue, earning a critical advantage heading into Stage 1. When competition officially began, de Soultrait showcased his Dakar experience with a Stage 1 victory, taking the early overall lead. He followed with a second-place finish in Stage 2, while Heger placed fifth to maintain team control of the standings.

From Stage 3 onward, Heger and Eddy seized command. Back-to-back stage wins propelled them into the overall lead, a position they never relinquished. The duo methodically navigated the unforgiving Saudi desert, with Heger collecting additional stage victories in Stages 8, 10, and 11, along with a third-place finish in Stage 5 and a fourth-place result in Stage 7. The consistency underscored a performance that was both aggressive and calculated from start to finish.

Driver And Navigator In Perfect Sync

“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.”

Heger also praised the machine beneath him, noting the flawless performance of the RZR Pro R Rally throughout the event. “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.”

Engineering For Victory Under New FIA Regulations

The 2026 Dakar marked the introduction of new FIA regulations for the SSV class, presenting a fresh engineering challenge. Polaris answered by developing the RZR Pro R Rally to meet strict homologation requirements while preserving the race-winning DNA of the platform.

Built around a largely stock-based chassis and bodywork, the vehicle retains key production RZR Pro R components, including the engine, driveline, and suspension. This approach highlights the inherent strength of the consumer platform while delivering the reliability, endurance, and performance required to survive Dakar’s relentless conditions.

Polaris Leadership Reflects On A Historic Three-Peat

“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.”

Scheuerell emphasized the effort behind the scenes, noting the extensive development required to adapt to the new SSV regulations. “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.”

Depth Across The Polaris And LFM Ranks

Beyond the top results, Polaris and LFM demonstrated remarkable depth throughout the field. Johan Kristoffersson and navigator Ola Fløene finished eighth overall in the RZR Pro R Factory T4 during Kristoffersson’s first Dakar Rally appearance, recording three podium stage finishes and an additional top-five result. Florent Vayssade’s rally was highlighted by a second-place finish in Stage 2, while young driver Gonçalo Guerreiro and navigator Maykel Justo delivered an impressive run that included one stage victory, two podium finishes, and three additional top-five results before being forced to retire after Stage 8 following a collision.

A Defining Moment For American Off-Road Racing

Collectively, these performances reinforced the strength, unity, and technical excellence of Polaris and LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport. Against the world’s best competitors and the most demanding terrain in motorsport, American horsepower prevailed once again—cementing Polaris’ place at the top of the Dakar Rally and setting a new benchmark for SSV performance on the global stage.