the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia concluded on Sunday. The rally started in Riyadh and finished off Wadi Al-Dawasir. The participating teams covered a total distance of 877 kilometers, including a 459-kilometer timed special stage that featured fierce competition and dramatic changes in the standings, all amidst challenging desert terrain that demanded exceptional navigational skills.
Clash of the Titans in the Cars category
In the car category, Swede Mattias Ekström, driving for Ford Racing, stole the show by taking first place in this stage, recording the fastest time and covering the distance in 3 hours, 44 minutes, and 22 seconds. Ekström finished ahead of his Portuguese rival, João Ferreira, driving a Toyota Gazoo, by 4 minutes and 27 seconds, while American Mitch Guthrie came in third.
In the overall standings, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, driver of the Dacia Sandrider team, continues to hold the lead with a total time of 28 hours, 10 minutes and 15 seconds, maintaining a relatively comfortable gap of 4 minutes and 47 seconds over his closest pursuer, Mattias Ekström, while veteran Spaniard Nani Roma came in third place.
Defender team dominance and the bikes shine
In the Stock car category, the Defender Rally team continued its absolute dominance, sweeping the top three positions. Legendary Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel finished first, followed by Lithuanian Rokas Paciuska and American Sarah Price. In the motorcycle category, Argentinian Luciano Benavides (Red Bull KTM) claimed first place, ahead of his Spanish teammate Edgar Canet and Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren.
Historical context and strategic importance
This edition of the Dakar Rally is of particular importance, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has continued to host this global event since 2020, reinforcing its position as a leading destination for major sporting events in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives. The Riyadh-Wadi Al-Dawasir route is a classic route that combines speed and technology, as Wadi Al-Dawasir represents the gateway to the Empty Quarter, putting competitors to real tests of endurance and navigation.
Results of other categories and aspirations for the next stage
In the Challenger lightweight off-road vehicle category, Argentinian Kevin Benavides took first place, ahead of Saudi Arabia's Yasser Bin Saeedan. In the SSV category, Argentinian Jarmias Gonzalez Ferrioli won the stage by a very narrow margin. And in the truck category, Lithuanian Vaidotas Žala continued his impressive performance, securing first place.
The excitement is set to continue tomorrow, Monday, January 12, 2026, with the launch of the eighth stage in Wadi Al-Dawasir, covering a distance of 721 km, of which 483 km is for the special stage. The motorcycles will start at seven in the morning, followed by the cars, on a day that promises more surprises in the heart of the Saudi desert.
