Sanjay Takale made history at the Dakar Rally 2026 by winning the H3 Class in the Prologue Stage, becoming the first Indian to achieve a podium finish in the Cars category on Day 1. Driving his Toyota HDJ 100, Takale secured 35th overall in the Cars category, ahead of international competitors. This marks his second Dakar Rally appearance and sets him to lead Stage 1, a challenging 305km route.