Juan Cruz Yacopini to miss 2026 Dakar Rally after sea diving incident

Juan Cruz Yacopini will miss the 2026 Dakar Rally after reportedly suffering serious injuries in a sea diving accident shortly before Christmas, although details have not yet been officially confirmed by his family. 

The Argentine driver was due to start his sixth Dakar Rally on Saturday, but that appearance has been ruled out. According to Argentine sources, the accident occurred when Yacopini dived into the sea with friends and struck his head in shallow water. He reportedly broke two vertebrae in his neck and suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of the impact. Yacopini is currently being treated in hospital and is conscious.

More details about his condition were provided by Yacopini’s Spanish navigator, Daniel Oliveras, in the Catalan newspaper Diari de Girona.

Oliveras stated that the incident also caused damage to Yacopini’s spinal cord, for which surgery is required. At the very least, this means Yacopini will miss the 2026 Dakar Rally, but according to Oliveras the consequences could be more severe.

Toyota Gazoo Racing will now field three cars in the 2026 Dakar

It remains unclear whether the 26-year-old will make a full recovery, meaning that “there is a chance he may never again be able to compete at a high level,” the Catalan co-driver explained.

Motorsport.com contacted Toyota Gazoo Racing SA, the team Yacopini was set to race for in Dakar, at the bivouac in Yanbu to request an update. At this stage, however, the team was unable to provide further details about the exact circumstances of the incident or the injuries Yacopini sustained, as there has been no contact with him or his family.

Toyota Gazoo Racing SA did confirm that it has also heard the reports described above, but cannot yet verify their accuracy. The team said it would issue an update once more information becomes available or when Yacopini’s family shares further details about his condition.

As a result of the absence of Yacopini and navigator Oliveras, Toyota Gazoo Racing SA will field three cars in the Dakar Rally. The Toyota Hilux IMT Evo line-up consists of Saood Variawa with navigator Francois Cazalet; Guy Botterill alongside co-driver Oriol Mena; and Joao Ferreira with navigator Felipe Palmeiro.

Dakar 2026: Full route, schedule and marathon stage details

Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz to enter Dakar Rally under an alias

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.