When you’ve done something 34 times and never failed to reach the finish line, people tend to take notice. And that’s precisely the kind of legendary consistency Hino is taking with it into the 2026 Dakar Rally. The Japanese manufacturer remains the only truck maker from Asia to contest the event, and once again it will line up with a single Hino 600 Series racing truck in a field dominated by European heavyweights.
Hino’s Dakar story has spanned decades, terrain changes, rule changes and rival dynasties, yet the outcome has been the same each year: an official finish. It’s a record that speaks volumes about durability and engineering stubbornness – the good kind – and it’s one the brand is understandably keen to defend as they prepare for their 35th consecutive entry.
While Hino will be going it alone from an Asian-manufacturer perspective, the truck category for 2026 is anything but lonely. The field consists of 46 entries, and the competition reads like the guest list of a European heavy-duty engineering summit. Iveco heads the numbers game with a massive 20 entries, followed by MAN with 13 trucks ready to rumble. DAF and Tatra will each send three contenders into the desert, Renault and Scania both have two entries, and Mercedes-Benz and Volvo will bring one each to the party.
Notably absent for yet another year are the Russian-built Kamaz trucks. Previously the dominant force in the category with 19 overall wins, Kamaz has been missing from the Dakar Rally since 2023, following its refusal to sign a declaration condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Their absence has reshaped the competitive landscape, leaving room for new rivalries and underdog stories – including the ever-steady Hino.
The 2026 route promises to be another punishing test of man and machine. The rally starts and ends in the port city of Yanbu, tracing an 8 000km loop through Saudi Arabia. Of that distance, a staggering 5 000km will be timed competitive stages. The rest day – a small but welcome luxury – falls on 10 January in Riyad, the capital. Expect dunes, rock gardens, mountain passes and the kind of heat that tests not only horsepower, but headspace.
Behind the wheel of the Hino sits a familiar face. Teruhito Sugawara, team principal of Team Hino Sugawara, will once again take up driving duties. Dakar veterans will recognise him instantly – he boasts an incredible 20 consecutive finishes of his own. Navigator Somemiya Hirokazu will again guide the way, while technician Mochizuki Yuji serves as the third crew member, ready to tackle mechanical challenges on the move.
Together, they form a small but formidable trio, carrying not just Hino’s hopes, but decades of legacy and expectation. In a category filled with thundering European giants, the compact and resolute Hino 600 Series truck has carved out a place for itself by simply refusing to give up.
As the countdown to the January start ticks away, there is something quietly admirable about Hino’s approach. No massive fleet. No towering budget. No rotating roster of star drivers. Just one truck, one team and a record of unbroken determination. If history is anything to go by, there’s every chance we’ll be watching them cross the finish line once again.
