Dacia has crowned itself the new powerhouse of the Dakar Rally, fending off a formidable field of Ford Raptors to claim its maiden victory in the legendary endurance race, achieved in just its second appearance. At the center of the triumph was Qatari star Nasser Al-Attiyah, who sealed a record-extending sixth Dakar win.
Dacia delivered a commanding performance throughout the rally, overcoming a navigation error on Stage 9 that briefly cost Al-Attiyah the overall lead. The setback proved short-lived, as he quickly regained control and never relinquished first place again. Piloting the Dacia Sandrider, Al-Attiyah was ultimately crowned king of the desert after an intense 48 hours, 56 minutes, and 53 seconds of racing.
South African driver Henk Lategan, last year’s runner-up, emerged as Al-Attiyah’s closest challenger in the Dacia Sandrider wearing number 299. Driving a 2026 Toyota Hilux GR, Lategan was running second overall before suffering a broken wheel bearing that forced him to stop for several hours. The issue dropped him to 23rd, though he later recovered to finish 19th.
Ford’s hopes rested largely on Joan “Nani” Roma Cararach, but by Stage 12, Al-Attiyah had nearly doubled his advantage to a commanding 16-minute lead. That margin effectively secured Dacia’s position at the top heading into the final stage.
Al-Attiyah’s sixth Dakar victory adds to his previous wins in 2011, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025, placing him second on the all-time winners list behind Stéphane Peterhansel, who has eight victories. Competing in his 22nd Dakar, the 55-year-old Qatari has made no secret of his ambition to surpass Peterhansel’s record, a feat that would require three more wins.
The victory also marked a milestone for Belgian navigator Fabian Lurquin, who claimed his first Dakar success after joining Al-Attiyah late last year following several seasons alongside Sébastien Loeb.
Ford’s Nani Roma and Sweden’s Mattias Ekström secured podium finishes for the Raptor squad, while Dacia’s Sébastien Loeb narrowly missed out on the top three, marking the first time the French driver has finished just outside the podium at Dakar.
Carlos Sainz Sr. finished fifth for Ford after receiving a 15-minute penalty for missing a waypoint, while Matthieu Serradori completed Century’s debut appearance in the rally. Lucas Moraes ensured a third Dacia finished inside the top 10.
The third Dacia Sandrider across the line was followed by three Toyotas driven by two-time bike class winner Toby Price, Seth Quintero, and Saood Variawa, highlighting a dramatic shift from Toyota’s dominance in previous editions. American Mitch Guthrie narrowly missed a top-10 finish after incurring a penalty on the final stage.
The 2026 Dakar Rally proved to be one of the most fiercely contested editions in recent memory. Ten different drivers from five manufacturers claimed individual stage victories in the event, which began and ended in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, along the Red Sea coast. The grueling route spanned nearly 8,000 kilometers and tested competitors across dunes, rocky canyons, and gravel terrain.
Source: autoevolution.com