Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Reporter
At just 19 years old, the Johannesburg-based racing prodigy Saood Variawa has made history by becoming the youngest-ever stage winner in the prestigious Dakar Rally.
The teens’ triumph came in the third stage of the 2025 event held in Saudi Arabia from 3-17 January. He participated in the car class, and for the young racer, the stage win was not just an incredible achievement but a landmark moment in his career. His results have been consistently strong: he secured a third-place finish in the opening stage and clinched the stage win on day three.
The Dakar Rally is widely considered the most gruelling motorsport event in the world. Stage three of the Dakar Rally is a challenging off-road stage that tests the endurance of competitors. The stage can include a variety of terrains, such as sand, mud, rocks, and dunes. Competitors must navigate the terrain while dealing with driver fatigue and the risk of accidents.
Variawa said despite being out of contention for the overall standings, his team, the Toyota Gazoo racing crew, maintained a solid pace, ensuring a remarkable finish each day.
Variawa said the Dakar Rally this year was a remarkable challenge for him. “It was obviously tougher than last year. I think the plan for the race was to take out as many competitors as possible in the first week. It was really tough, but we did a decent job,” he said.
The win has been the proudest moment in his racing career.
“Basically, the race is about 14 days long and it’s about 8000 km long. Each day is a different stage. Each day we average about 650km or so. Each day, you’re doing a race and it’s really tough on the body and the mind to just be in the car for 14 days. It’s a lot to just sit in that same position. Your body takes a beating,” said Variawa.
He explained that a stage win was considered a remarkable feat.
“It’s not just a one-day thing, it’s racing the best guys in the world, and you’re doing a proper day’s race,” said Variawa.
He still feels overwhelmed by his win. “It’s special, I didn’t know that there was a record to break but my teammate became the youngest stage winner before me in 2022. Our team tried our best and everything just fell into place. Everything was smooth sailing on our side, we overtook a lot of competitors on that day. I couldn’t ask for more and I couldn’t be happier. A stage win in a race like this is really amazing,” said Variawa.
Variawa’s passion for racing runs deep in his veins, thanks to the influence of his father, Shameer Variawa, and his grandfather, Abdul, both of whom were accomplished off-road racers. He started karting at the tender age of five, and by the time he was 14, he was already competing in international championships.
By 2015, he earned his South African racing colours, and his success in the karting world was swift, including winning the Bridgestone Super Cup and finishing second in the South African championship.
Variawa’s achievements weren’t confined to karting. He moved on to racing at the highest levels in Europe, participating in the WSK Championship and FIA World Championships.
His accomplishments led to a key moment in 2021 when Toyota invited him to drive in their Global Touring Car category.
Looking ahead, Variawa is focused on continuing his rise in the motorsport world.
“The plan is to do the rest of the World Championships. Dakar forms the first round, and then we go to Abu Dhabi, South Africa, Portugal, and Morocco. These are all shorter races, about five days long,” he said.
He’s committed to racing both locally and internationally, aiming to excel in the Dakar Rally and secure victories in the World Championship.
As the youngest-ever stage winner at the Dakar Rally, Variawa has already accomplished what most can only dream of—and with his ambitions set on conquering many more championships, he says his journey is only just beginning.
