From Dakar to Daytona: the best racing events for January 2026

Our top events this month

Dakar Rally

Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, January 3-17
Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast is the start and finish of a huge loop that will take in AlUla, Riyadh and, well, a lot of dunes. New for 2026 is the Bivouac Refuge stage, where drivers will spend the night with minimal desert cover – a tent, a mattress and a sleeping bag. Sweet dreams!

10th Winter Romania Historic Rally

Transylvania, Romania, January 15-17
If you don’t mind vampires, this event for pre-1999 cars takes in some stunning scenery in Transylvania’s Carpathians, loosely orbiting Covasna. Think: early ’90s Toyota Celicas and spotlight-bedecked BMW E30s kicking up clouds of snow.

Circuit Rally Championship – Brands Hatch winter stages

Brands Hatch, Kent, January 17
After Oulton, Cadwell and Donington Parks, CRC 2025-26 round four (of nine) reaches Kent. There’s a real mix of machinery. Last year’s winners Michael Igoe/Will Atkins were driving a Citroën C3 Rally2… but our heart went to the Chevette 2300 HSR of Alasdair Stables and Neil Jones. Entry £23.

IMSA – Daytona 24 hours

Daytona, Florida, January 21-25
While topping up your vitamin D level, look out for Colton Herta, who’s left IndyCar to become Cadillac’s F1 test driver and also race in Formula 2 for Hitech. He’s appearing in three IMSA rounds this year with Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing – including this one.

WRC – Monte Carlo rally

HQ: Gap, France, January 22-25
Here we go again – round one of the WRC. This season there’s no Ott Tänak, who retired at the end of ’25, and Kalle Rovanperä has left for Japan. The latter’s seat has been taken by Oliver Solberg, son of Petter.

More events

Jan 10 – Formula E – Mexico City ePrix
Jan 10 – HRCR Open Day – Gaydon
Jan 29-Feb 7 – Historical Monte Carlo Rally