Dakar 2026

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Dakar 2026 - First week extended highlights

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Overall standings (stage 7):

Cars:

1 | 299 - N. AL-ATTIYAH (QAT) | DACIA | SANDRIDER | 28h10m15s
2 | 226 - M. EKSTRÖM (SWE) | FORD | RAPTOR | 28h15m02s +00:04:47
3 | 227 - N. ROMA (ESP) | FORD | RAPTOR | 28h17m30s +00:07:15

Bikes:

1 | 001 - D. SANDERS (AUS) KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 28h47m31s
2 | 009 - R. BRABEC (USA) HONDA | CRF 450 | 28h51m56s +00:04:25
3 | 077 - L. BENAVIDES (ARG) | KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 28h52m11s +00:04:40

Challenger:

1 | 336 - P. NAVARRO (ESP) | TAURUS | T3MAX | 31h17m03s
2 | 300 - N. CAVIGLIASSO (ARG) | TAURUS | EVO MAX | 31h19m51s +00:02:48
3 | 338 - L. DEL RIO (CHI) | TAURUS | T3MAX | 31h46m12s +00:29:09

SSV:

1 | 401 - B. HEGER (USA) | POLARIS | RZR PRO R | 31h30m03s
2 | 416 - K. CHANEY (USA) | BRP CAN-AM | MAVERICK R | 32h22m56s +00:52:53
3 | 407 - X. DE SOULTRAIT (FRA) | POLARIS | RZR PRO R | 32h24m28s +00:54:25

Trucks:

1 | 601 - M. VAN DEN BRINK (NED) | MM TECHNOLOGY IVECO | DAKAR EVO4 | 32h44m49s
2 | 604 - V. ZALA (LTU) | IVECO | POWERSTAR | 33h17m51s +00:33:02
3 | 602 - A. LOPRAIS (CZE) | IVECO | POWERSTAR | 33h19m05s +00:34:16

 

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Works Defender Octa, the D7X-R, takes on Land Cruiser at Dakar 2026. Is this Mission Impossible?

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At Dakar 2026 the new Land Rover Defender D7X-R is competing in the new Stock Class against the Toyota Land Cruiser in the desert Plus just how different is the D7X-R to the regular Defender Octa on which it's based?

 

[Swissbob]

Ford is doing really well at this years Dakar.

 

[tonyshaw]

Do we see such scenes in any other motorsport series?

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12/13 Stage

General ranking:

Cars:

1 | 299 - N. AL-ATTIYAH (QAT) | DACIA | SANDRIDER | 48h01m51s
2 | 227 - N. ROMA (ESP) | FORD | RAPTOR | 48h17m53s +00:16:02
3 | 226 - M. EKSTRÖM (SWE) | FORD | RAPTOR | 48h25m12s +00:23:21

Bikes:

1 | 009 - R. BRABEC (USA) | HONDA | CRF 450 | 48h08m12s
2 | 077 - L. BENAVIDES (ARG) | KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 48h11m32s +00:03:20
3 | 068 - T. SCHAREINA (ESP) | HONDA | CRF 450 | 48h36m03s +00:27:51

Challenger:

1 | 336 - P. NAVARRO (ESP) | TAURUS | T3MAX | 53h49m52s
2 | 304 - Y. SEAIDAN (KSA) | TAURUS | EVO MAX | 54h15m45s +00:25:53
3 | 300 - N. CAVIGLIASSO (ARG) | TAURUS | EVO MAX | 54h27m37s +00:37:45

SSV:

1 | 401 - B. HEGER (USA) | POLARIS | RZR PRO R | 54h14m13s
2 | 416 - K. CHANEY (USA) | BRP CAN-AM | MAVERICK R | 55h17m59s +01:03:46
3 | 407 - X. DE SOULTRAIT (FRA) | POLARIS | RZR PRO R | 55h38m38s +01:24:25

Trucks:

1 | 604 - V. ZALA (LTU) (Paulo Fiuza) | IVECO | POWERSTAR | 56h01m24s
2 | 602 - A. LOPRAIS (CZE) | IVECO | POWERSTAR | 56h22m48s +00:21:24
3 | 601 - M. VAN DEN BRINK (NED) | MM TECHNOLOGY | DAKAR EVO4 | 56h31m46s +00:30:22

Stock:

1 | 502 - R. BACIUSKA (LTU) | DEFENDER | DAKAR D7X-R | 57h13m54s
2 | 504 - S. PRICE (USA) | DEFENDER | DAKAR D7X-R | 61h10m53s +03:56:59
3 | 503 - R. BASSO (FRA) | TOYOTA | LAND CRUISER GR SPORT | 65h43m47s +08:29:53

 

[Swissbob]

Although I still watch the Dakar every year.

I much prefer the 90s and 00s, the speed was slower but usually they drive 3 weeks, it was more endurance than anything else.

From the scenery, the Latin American Dakar period was the absolute peak.

 

[TopspeedPT]

Benavides won by 2 seconds!

Trucks:

1st | 604 - V. ZALA (LTU) (Paulo Fiuza) | IVECO | POWERSTAR | 56h58m28s

Dream of progress!
The winning team!
This victory is ours and that of all of you who have always believed like me!

 

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Dacia announces exit from Rally-Raid, rules out 2027 Dakar

After winning the 2026 Dakar, Dacia revealed it will contest the full 2026 World Championship but rules out a return to the historic rally raid in 2027

Dacia has confirmed that it will compete in the entire 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship before bringing its project to a close at the season-ending event in Abu Dhabi – ruling out a return to the Dakar in 2027.

The tracks had barely cleared in the desert following the latest triumph for Dacia at the 2026 Dakar when the brand decided to bring the curtain down on its rally-raid adventure. Following several direct conversations with the brand, Dacia has confirmed to Motorsport.com that the Sandrider project will conclude at the end of the 2026 season. The final round will be Abu Dhabi and, as a result, participation in the 2027 Dakar has been completely ruled out.

The news comes just weeks after the brand conquered the 2026 Rally Dakar with Nasser Al-Attiyah at the wheel. The founding objective of the programme – to win the Dakar within a three-year cycle – was achieved in just two. And now, far from easing off, the ambition is to complete the circle by securing the World Rally-Raid Championship title.

With that sporting endorsement and the Dakar trophy already secured, the major objective now is to conquer the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship and bow out in style. If the team succeeds, Dacia will close a brief but extraordinarily successful chapter: winning the toughest rally on the planet at the second attempt and fighting until the very end for the world title before bringing the curtain down.

Dacia will contest every remaining round of the 2026 championship. Portugal will be the next stop in a month’s time, before heading to Argentina, Morocco and concluding the season in Abu Dhabi – the venue that will mark the final chapter of the Dacia Sandriders project.

Link

 

[Swissbob]

Renault also wants to shut down Alpine and they’re pulling out of WEC as well, the new CEO is a bean counter.