The Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 witnessed exciting twists and turns on Friday, January 9th, in the sixth stage, which connected the northern city of Hail with the capital, Riyadh, covering a total distance of 915 kilometers, including a 326-kilometer timed special stage. This stage brought about significant changes in the standings, highlighting the challenging and diverse terrain of the Kingdom.
Amidst the fierce competition, Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, driving for the Dacia Sandriders team, asserted his dominance by setting the fastest time in the car category, finishing the stage in 3 hours, 38 minutes, and 28 seconds. This exceptional performance allowed him to outperform his teammate, the French legend Sébastien Loeb, by 2 minutes and 58 seconds, while American driver Seth Quintero, driving a Toyota Gazoo, finished in third place.
Thanks to this result, Al-Attiyah took the lead in the overall standings for the car category with a total time of 24 hours, 18 minutes, and 29 seconds, extending his lead over his closest rival, South African Henk Latigan, to more than six minutes. This achievement further cements Al-Attiyah's status as one of the greatest legends of desert rallying and reflects the remarkable harmony between him and his new vehicle in the challenging terrain of the Kingdom.
In the broader context, the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia continues to write new chapters of challenge since its move to the Kingdom in 2020. The Hail-Riyadh stage is a classic, combining sandy tracks with fast sections, demanding exceptional navigational skills and sharp focus. This event showcases the unique geographical diversity of Saudi Arabia, from the majestic mountains of Hail to the sand dunes surrounding the capital.
In the remaining categories, the Stock car category saw a dominant performance from the Defender Rally team, who secured the top three positions, led by American Sarah Price. In the motorcycle category, American Ricky Brabec claimed first place, while Chilean Ignacio Casale topped the Challenger category, and Frenchman Xavier de Soultrait led the SSV category. In the truck category, Chilean Ales Lopris continued his impressive form, winning the stage.
This edition of the rally is of great strategic and economic importance, as it contributes to highlighting the Kingdom as a global tourist and sporting destination within Vision 2030. The rally attracts the attention of millions around the world, which enhances economic activity in the regions through which the race passes, and highlights the Kingdom’s ability to host the largest international sporting events with high efficiency.
With the caravan arriving in Riyadh, the competitors will enjoy a well-deserved day of rest tomorrow, Saturday, January 10, 2026, an opportunity to catch their breath and service their vehicles before resuming the battle on Sunday, January 11, in the seventh stage heading towards Wadi Al-Dawasir, the gateway to the Empty Quarter, a distance of 876 kilometers.
