Nasser Al-Attiyah spearheaded a dominant Dacia 1-2 finish ahead of teammate Sebastien Loeb in Dakar Rally 2026 Stage 6, reclaiming the overall lead in the car category.
The thrilling 331-kilometer timed special stage from Ha’il to Riyadh, part of a total 920-kilometer loop, tested competitors with a mix of fast gravel tracks, rocky technical sections, and deceptive sand corridors that demanded precision navigation and endurance just before the mandatory rest day.
Al-Attiyah’s win, his first of the 2026 edition and 49th career stage victory in the Dakar, not only highlighted Dacia’s burgeoning strength in the ultimate desert endurance event but also shifted the championship dynamics, with Toyota’s Henk Lategan now trailing by 6m10s overall.
The stage unfolded under clear Saudi Arabian skies on January 9, 2026, with competitors departing Ha’il bivouac early in the morning, facing a selective route designed by ASO organizers to ramp up the intensity midway through the rally.
Joao Ferreira set a blistering pace in the #240 Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Hilux, grabbing the virtual lead around the one-third mark, but his advantage evaporated as Nasser Al-Attiyah aboard the innovative #299 Dacia Sandrider T1+ methodically closed in thanks to co-driver Mathieu Lurquin’s flawless roadbook calls.
Ferreira delivered a spirited effort to hold off Al-Attiyah but the Qatari veteran’s experience shone through as he navigated the tricky dune fields without error, pulling ahead decisively in the latter sectors where Toyota’s Seth Quintero mounted a brief challenge before fading.
Meanwhile, nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb in the sister #299 Dacia Sandrider T1+ produced a stunning comeback drive in the second half of the stage, surging from eighth to finish second overall on the day, just 2m26s shy of Al-Attiyah’s benchmark.
Loeb’s aggressive push through the sandy corridors, paired with co-driver Fabian Lurquin’s precise instructions—no relation to Mathieu despite the shared surname—allowed him to overhaul Quintero and secure his first Dakar stage podium since 2024, boosting him to sixth in the overall classification.
Quintero demonstrated his sand prowess to salvage third on the stage followed by Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC teammate Toby Price who charged impressively to fourth, while Ferreira’s drop-off held him to a respectable fifth place.
Ford Racing mounted a strong counter with Nani Roma and co-driver Alex Haro in sixth, just 5m31s off the pace, followed closely by Carlos Sainz and navigator Lucas Cruz in seventh, the Spaniard incurring a minor 1-minute-10-second penalty but maintaining Ford’s top-three overall threat.
Further back, Mathieu Serradori and Loic Minaudier impressed in eighth for Century Racing Factory Team, their consistent pace belying a privateer effort, while Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena took ninth for Toyota Gazoo Racing SA, neck-and-neck with Energylandia’s Eryk Goczał and Szymon Gospodarczyk in tenth.
Dakar Stage 5 winner Mitch Guthrie faced the harsh reality of road-opening after he struggled with navigation issues, finishing 11th in the #228 Ford Raptor and slipping to seventh overall at +21m49s.
Henk Lategan also endured a challenging day as his Toyota Hilux GR suffered in the dust and navigation-heavy sections, slipping from the overall lead to second behind Al-Attiyah, but his consistency keeps him firmly in contention at 6m10s.
Meanwhile, Mattias Ekstrom and Emil Bergkvist in the #226 Ford completed the top manufacturer representation in the standings, sitting fifth overall despite a 13th stage finish hampered by a brief off-road excursion.
Honda’s Ricky Brabec claims dramatic Stage 6 win after Daniel Sanders penalty
Shifting to the motorcycle category, Honda’s Ricky Brabec seized a dramatic Dakar Rally 2026 Stage 6 victory after KTM’s Daniel Sanders received a 6-minute speeding penalty that relegated him from the stage lead and closed the gap to just 45 seconds in the overall leaderboard.
Brabec’s flawless ride through the 331km special propelled him to second overall, his 12th career Dakar stage win underscoring Honda’s resurgence against KTM’s traditional dominance.
Brabec’s Spanish Honda teammate Tosha Schareina shadowed closely in second at +1m14s, while Daniel Sanders penalty dropped him to third, clinging to the yellow jersey by the slimmest of margins entering the rest day in Riyadh.
Honda’s dominance shone once more through Skyler Howes and Adrien Van Beveren who rounded out an impressive showing in the top five, while Dakar Stage 5 winner Luciano Benavides finished sixth for KTM and held onto third overall at +10m15s.
Michael Docherty battled to seventh for BAS World KTM Team, incurring his own 7-minute penalty, followed by teammate Toni Mulec in eighth.
Ignacio “Nacho” Cornejo took ninth for Hero Motosports, as Ross Branch rounded out the top ten reflecting Honda’s speed edge over KTM’s reliability.
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