Organisers hailed the victory as a “true icon of Dakar history” in a social media announcement.
🏆 Historic win in Dakar Classic: Tomasz Białkowski’s De Rooy DAF 3300 becomes the first truck ever to win outright, a true icon of Dakar history. #Dakar2026 #DakarInSaudi
Opublikowany przez Dakar Rally Środa, 7 stycznia 2026
Białkowski was supported by navigator Dariusz Baśkiewicz and mechanic Adam Grodzki.
Their museum-loaned DAF, borrowed from Eindhoven, finished first in its class and ninth overall, demonstrating dominance in the truck category.
On Stage 3, the team made history by topping the general classification for the stage, finishing ahead of all cars and motorcycles, a first for a Dakar Classic truck. They also won at least one individual truck stage.
Other Polish crews shone in the Classic category as well. Mariusz Pietrzycki and Kamil Jabłoński, driving a Toyota, placed sixth.
Paweł Kośmiński and Bartosz Balicki, in a Mercedes G-Class, finished 31st despite rolling their vehicle on one stage.
A previous top Polish team, Tomasz Staniszewski and Stanisław Postawka, retired from several stages due to mechanical issues with their vintage Porsche 924 and were classified 80th overall.
The overall winners of the Dakar Classic category were Karolis Raisys and his French co-driver Christophe Marques, driving a Land Rover.
Białkowski’s triumph marks a landmark achievement for Polish motorsport and a celebration of Dakar’s enduring legacy, demonstrating the continuing appeal of classic vehicles in one of the world’s toughest endurance rallies.
To moment, który przechodzi do historii światowego motorsportu. Po raz pierwszy w historii Dakar Rally oraz Dakar...
Opublikowany przez Polski Związek Motorowy Sobota, 17 stycznia 2026
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Source: Polish Radio/Dakar Rally/Dakar.pl/PZM