An intrepid troop of enthusiasts embarked on a 13-day, 5000km adventure across the Saudi Arabian desert for the 2026 Badawi Trial to the Last Oasis on 28 March. Organised by HERO-ERA, the event is regarded as one of the most demanding endurance rallies on the calendar and follows the successes of the inaugural 2023 edition.
Compounding the challenge is the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East, caused by the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. The war has led to the cancellation of the Formula 1 Grands Prix in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as the opening round of the World Endurance Championship in Qatar.
Thanks to the determination of HERO-ERA and Badawi Trial competitors, the rally has been able to go ahead, albeit with a reduced field of 20 historic cars – down from 45 in 2023 – and a revised route that bypasses eastern Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE. The diligent work of route planner John Spiller and clerk of the course Guy Woodcock has ensured the event is proceeding safely, allowing crews to explore more of Saudi Arabia than originally planned.
Since leaving the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the field has faced a varied mix of terrain. Coastal highways offered open, high-speed sections, while the transition to desert sand brought short competitive bursts over washboarded surfaces that tested both navigation and vehicle control. Towns along the route presented speed bumps ranging from minor annoyances to hefty jolts, while the change from desert plains to hills and mountains provided technical challenges and dramatic elevation gains.
One of the day’s most demanding stretches was the ascent of the Sha’ar Pass, a steep and hazardous road where local traffic added to the difficulty. Older vehicles, including Car #1 – the 1907 Itala crewed by HERO-ERA chairman Tomas de Vargas Machuca and RAC motoring committee chairman Ben Cussons – crawled up at just 14 mph, overheating along the way, highlighting the endurance required of both crews and their historic machines. Despite the long distances and concentration-sapping sections, all competitors safely reached the overnight stop.
Day two saw crews continue along the twists of Highway 15 from Masqarah into the Sarawat Mountains, which combines challenging roads with jaw-dropping views above the clouds. Belgian Bentley duo Jean-Pierre Swennen and Freddy Gevaert were unfortunately stricken by a transmission failure, forcing them to retire their 1950 Justine Special and continue in a hire car. The rest of the field tackled two regularities separated by a long off-road link, with navigation proving tricky as new tarmac tempted some crews off-route.
Day three took participants on a 631km journey from Ta’if to Madinah, across some of the rally’s most remote terrain yet. Time control sections and a desert-based regularity tested crews with shifting sands, scrubland obstacles and off-track route choices, leading to creative lines and spectacular moments, including Yang Zhan and Jason Zhe Ren’s Toyota Land Cruiser getting airborne over a wadi.
A visit to the two-kilometre-wide, 500-metre-deep Al Wahbah Crater offered a scenic detour, while the volcanic ‘Wigglywadi’ regularity in the shadow of the Hejaz Mountains provided one of the most thrilling sections so far. By the end of day three, the Ford V8 of Richard Clark and Jonathan Round remained at the top of the leaderboard, continuing their dominant run.
As of 31 March, the Badawi Trial continues north toward Madinah, with further competitive sections and mountainous terrain to come. Another update on the crews’ progress will be published next week, ahead of their arrival in Jeddah on 9 April.
