Overview
- Calleja and co-driver Eduardo “Edu” Blanco rolled multiple times after hitting a road dip just beyond kilometer 271 on a straight section while running in heavy dust.
- Both men exited the car and were transported to a medical center for routine checks, with no serious injuries reported.
- The Santana was left structurally destroyed, compelling the Santana Racing Team to abandon the 2026 Rally Dakar.
- Organizers deployed a helicopter to the scene to coordinate assistance and assess the crew, according to local reports.
- Drivers had recently warned the FIA about dangerous visibility from 30-second start gaps, with Calleja saying they had driven inside a dust cloud for roughly 400 kilometers.