The Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, the premier event in the world of desert motorsports, resumed today, Sunday, with the seventh stage, which connected the capital, Riyadh, to the gateway to the Empty Quarter in Wadi Al-Dawasir. This stage covered a total distance of 877 kilometers, including a 459-kilometer timed special stage, which proved a true test of the skills of both navigators and drivers at the halfway point of the rally.
Ekstrom steals the spotlight in the automotive category
In the battle of giants in the car category, Swede Mattias Ekström, driving for Ford Racing, dominated the stage, setting the fastest time of 3 hours, 44 minutes, and 22 seconds. This strong performance solidified the team's position in the competition, as Ekström finished 4 minutes and 27 seconds ahead of Portugal's João Ferreira in his Toyota Gazoo, while American Mitch Guthrie confirmed Ford's strength by taking third place.
Al-Attiyah and the overall leadership struggle
Despite Ekström's stage win, Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, known as the "King of the Desert," continued to employ his usual strategy of patience and cautious driving to maintain his overall lead. Al-Attiyah sits atop the standings with a total time of 28 hours, 10 minutes, and 15 seconds, holding a relatively comfortable 4 minutes and 47 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Ekström, while veteran Spanish driver Nani Roma occupies third place.
Peterhansel leads the Defender dominance
In the Stock category, French legend Stéphane Peterhansel, nicknamed "Mr. Dakar" for his numerous titles, proved that experience plays a crucial role in challenging stages. Peterhansel led the Defender Rally team to a sweep of the top three positions, securing first place, followed by his teammates, Lithuanian Rokas Paciuska and American Sarah Price, reflecting the team's excellent mechanical condition.
Challenges of bicycles and light vehicles
The motorcycle category witnessed fierce competition, ultimately won by Argentinian Luciano Benavides of Red Bull KTM, who outperformed his Spanish teammate Edgar Canet. In the Challenger category, Argentinian Kevin Benavides (Odyssey Academy) shone, securing first place, ahead of Saudi champion Yasser Bin Saeedan, whose impressive performance earned him second place, thus bolstering Arab hopes in this category.
The importance of the stage and the geographical context
Stage seven is of strategic importance as it moves the rally from the diverse terrain of the central region to the edge of the Empty Quarter in Wadi Al-Dawasir, where the sand dunes become increasingly challenging and demand exceptional navigational skills. Since its inception in the Kingdom, the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia has served as a global platform showcasing the Kingdom's unique geographical diversity and attracting the attention of millions of sports enthusiasts worldwide, further solidifying Saudi Arabia's position as a leading destination for major sporting events.
Trucks and the next stage
In the truck category, Lithuanian driver Vaidotas Žala continued his impressive performance with the Nords de Roy FBT team, securing first place. All eyes will now turn to the eighth stage in Wadi Al Dawasir on Monday, January 12, 2026. This 721-kilometer stage, with 483 kilometers of timed sections, is expected to be crucial in determining the final standings of the rally.
