RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian representatives Julian Johan and Shammie Zacky Baridwan achieved historic results at the 2026 Dakar Rally held in Saudi Arabia from January 3 to 17, 2026. Julian Johan, popularly known as Jeje, successfully secured 5th place overall in the Dakar Classic category, while Shammie Baridwan finished in 7th place according to official data.

The duo faced a grueling 8,000-kilometer route starting and ending in Yanbu, competing against 433 vehicles from 69 countries across 13 challenging stages of rock and sand.

"Being able to finish Dakar in fifth place overall in the Dakar Classic category is actually beyond expectations, as the initial goal was simply to reach the finish line," stated Jeje, in a written statement on Monday, January 19, 2026, as quoted by

He emphasized that the Dakar Rally is an incredibly difficult event due to the challenging terrain, long duration, and vast distances involved. Regarding his other achievements, Jeje also successfully secured third place in the H.2 class while competing in the grueling desert race.

"The track was dominated by rocky and sandy deserts, which are very challenging for both physical endurance and vehicle strength, while also being an unusual terrain for an Indonesian rally driver to face," he added. He noted that such conditions require immense talent and experience, leading him and his team to prioritize caution every single day.

In addition to his success in the H.2 class and the overall Dakar Classic, Jeje achieved first place in the Iconic Classic category. This specific category is dedicated to rally drivers who utilize racing cars that have historically competed in the original Paris-Dakar events.

Jeje drove a Toyota Land Cruiser 100 which was specially prepared by the French racing team, Compagnie Sahariene. According to Jeje, the SUV was originally purchased by the team from Team Toyota Japan, which had secured victories with the vehicle in the early 2000s.

Fortunately, the Land Cruiser 100 encountered no significant technical issues throughout the race despite the extreme conditions of the rocky and sandy deserts. This reliability proved to be a major advantage for both Jeje and his support team during the competition.

"For the LC100, Alhamdulillah, there were no problems from start to finish; we were able to reach the finish line every day in complete and healthy condition," he remarked. He explained that the only damage sustained was minor cosmetic issues, such as scratches on the body and bumpers, while all mechanical components remained safe. ***