From the dusty trails of South Africa to the global spotlight of Dakar, Matt Smith’s journey is a story of persistence, preparation, and passion. Recognised as the voice of South African Rally Raid for years, Smith’s career took an extraordinary turn in January 2026 when he joined the broadcast team for the Dakar Rally, the world’s most prestigious and grueling motorsport event.
The invitation came not by chance, but through decades of dedication and a defining moment at the South African Safari Rally, the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship. “By the final day, one of the senior ASO officials put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘We need to speak after this,’” Smith recalls. “I genuinely thought I’d done something wrong. Instead, he told me I’d done a good job and asked if I’d consider doing Dakar. I said yes immediately… and if I’m honest, I probably burst into tears.”
Yet no amount of local experience could fully prepare him for Dakar’s scale. “The bivouac is a city—about 3,000 people, stretching roughly three kilometres long. You pack it up, move it, and rebuild it every few days. We did that five or six times over three weeks. It becomes a moving circus,” Smith explains. Days began before sunrise and often ended long after dark, with Smith juggling live television, daily stage shows, social media coverage, podium hosting, and broadcast production—all under extreme heat, constant travel, and relentless pressure. “You’re away from home, away from routines, away from family, and you still have to deliver energy, accuracy, and clarity on live television every single day.”
Being the voice of Dakar requires more than just endurance; it demands precision, neutrality, and storytelling under pressure. “I always say I’m Switzerland,” Smith says. “I can have favourites in my heart, but not on the job. When a pre-race favourite falls out, the entire narrative changes, and you have to recalibrate instantly.” Preparation underpins everything: pronouncing names correctly, understanding teams and technology, and knowing every nuance of the vehicles and drivers. Confidence, he says, comes from preparation, and energy comes from confidence.
That preparation was tested to the extreme on the final day of Dakar, when after 8,000 kilometres of racing, victory was decided by a mere two seconds—the closest margin in Dakar history. Standing on the podium, witnessing elation on one side and heartbreak on the other, remains one of the most intense moments of Smith’s career.
For Smith, Dakar was also an opportunity to showcase South African expertise on the global stage. “South Africa produces drivers, navigators, engineers, technicians, officials, and media professionals. Dakar showed that our expertise travels,” he notes. With roughly 30% of cars entered developed and manufactured in South Africa and a strong contingent of local crews competing internationally, the country’s Rally Raid footprint continues to grow. “Our vehicles are tested and developed in the South African Rally Raid Championship. That’s why they’re so competitive internationally and why global teams are paying attention.”
Being chosen by ASO, a French-driven organisation, was a powerful affirmation. “It surprised me that they wanted a slightly odd-sounding, somewhere-between-English-and-South-African guy on the mic,” Smith laughs. “But timing matters. I was doing the right job, in front of the right people, at the right time.” After 20 years in motorsport media, Dakar marked a career milestone. “I honestly feel like I’m working at my peak now. Dakar 2026 was life-changing.”
Returning home brought its own challenges—physical and emotional comedowns from the intensity of the event—but Smith is already focused on applying what he’s learned to support South African Rally Raid’s growth, with the local championship kicking off in May. “If what I’ve learned helps our championship grow and improve, that’s a win for everyone.”
For young South Africans, Smith has a clear message: motorsport is bigger than the cockpit. “Not everyone can be Giniel de Villiers or Ross Branch—that’s less than one percent. But there are hundreds of roles in motorsport, from media to engineering, logistics, and production. Dakar alone had 60 to 70 South African engineers working behind the scenes.”
One word to describe Dakar? “Life-changing.”
For Matt Smith and South African Rally Raid, Dakar 2026 was more than a race; it was a declaration. South African voices, talent, and expertise belong on the world stage.
