The winner or loser of the 2026 Dakar Rally was decided by a distinction of simply two seconds within the RallyGP class, the place management modified arms within the remaining levels.
Honda’s Ricky Brabec took the lead on Saturday’s thirteenth and remaining stage of the 2026 Dakar. He had a 3 minute 20 second lead over KTM’s Luciano Benavidez, which he closed with simply Saturday’s 105km particular run.
Nonetheless, Benavidez was profitable in his quest, ending second on the stage, six seconds behind Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing teammate Edgar Kane. Edgar Canet completed his first Dakar look within the RallyGP class in thirty second place general after receiving a six-hour penalty on the finish of the primary week.
It wasn’t a good time for Benavidez, however Brabec made a navigational error simply 7km from the end line and completed ninth on the stage, 3 minutes 28 seconds behind Kane’s profitable time, giving him the lead he wanted to take the victory. After Friday’s race, Brabec seemed set for his second Dakar victory, however that one mistake value Benavidez his first rally victory.
Tosha Chalayna completed the rally in third place general with third place on the stage, which means that each his and Brabec’s Hondas have been on the rostrum.
Skylar Howes then took fourth place, whereas Daniel Saunders held on to the highest 5 by simply over 90 seconds regardless of using for 3 days with a damaged sternum and collarbone.
Adrian van Beveren was sixth, forward of hero rider Nacho Cornejo, who was the highest rider for each KTM and Honda. Ross Department, Toni Murek and rookie Preston Campbell rounded out the highest 10.
There was far much less drama within the Final class, with Dacia driver Nasser Al-Attiyah holding on to the lead he had gained on Friday, profitable his sixth Dakar victory by a margin of 9 minutes and 42 seconds. Second place went to Nani Roma, and third place general went to Ford teammate Matthias Ekström, whereas Sebastien Loeb’s second-place Dacia missed out on the rostrum by simply 37 seconds.
