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Dakar 2026 Stage 9: Ford’s stunning comeback as rivals face epic navigation disaster

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
January 13, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Dakar 2026 Stage 9: Ford’s stunning comeback as rivals face epic navigation disaster

Ford Dominates Dakar 2026: Unbelievable Upsets Shake Up the Rankings!

In a stunning twist during Stage 9 of the Dakar Rally, Eryk Goczal delivered a jaw-dropping performance, clinching victory for the Toyota customer Energylandia, while Nani Roma catapulted from fourth to seize the overall lead. This 410km challenge from Wadi ad-Dawasir to Bisha turned the Dakar Rally on its head, as overnight leader Nasser Al-Attiyah and other frontrunners faced catastrophic navigation issues that derailed their ambitions.

The stage initially saw reigning World Rally-Raid champion Lucas Moraes asserting his dominance in his Dacia Sandrider, building a slim 1m30s lead over Toyota’s Guy Botterill by the 271km mark. However, disaster struck as both drivers encountered misfortunes, propelling 21-year-old Goczal into the virtual lead. Starting deep in the pack, the Polish sensation capitalized on the clear tracks ahead, cruising to a remarkable finish with a seven-minute margin, marking his first stage win in the Ultimate class.

In a family triumph, Goczal’s uncle, Michal Goczal, steered clear of the chaos to deliver a stunning 1-2 finish for Energylandia, overshadowing their factory rivals. The best of the manufacturer entrants was two-time bikes champion Toby Price, who managed to secure third place, finishing 11 minutes behind the stage winner in a tumultuous outing. Meanwhile, Guillaume de Mevius piloted his X-Raid Mini to a commendable fourth, while Cristina Gutierrez emerged as the top Dacia competitor, finishing fifth after her teammates fell behind.

Ford’s ace driver, Carlos Sainz Sr., also faced his share of adversity, losing over 15 minutes, including a 1m10s penalty for overspeeding. Nevertheless, he managed to outpace many of his direct rivals, finishing in sixth place, just ahead of teammate Roma and Mini’s Lionel Baud. In stark contrast, the day proved disastrous for Toyota’s factory team as Seth Quintero, Botterill, and Henk Lategan all suffered significant time losses, finishing ninth, tenth, and eleventh respectively. Lategan, Toyota’s key title contender, battled power steering malfunctions on a day rife with navigation challenges.

The most shocking blow fell upon Al-Attiyah, whose navigational errors left him floundering at the 280km mark, ultimately finishing in 12th place and conceding a staggering 26 minutes to Goczal. Meanwhile, the Ford duo of Mattias Ekstrom and Mitch Guthrie faced their own calamities, with Ekstrom losing over 30 minutes and Guthrie suffering losses exceeding an hour, effectively extinguishing their hopes for an overall victory.

The dramatic upheaval in Stage 9 has radically reshaped the overall standings, with two-time Dakar champion Roma now leading a Ford 1-2, just 57 seconds ahead of teammate Sainz. The reinstatement of Sainz’s 1m10s penalty proved crucial in delineating the top two positions. Al-Attiyah slipped from first to third, trailing Roma by only 1m10s, while Lategan languishes a further five minutes behind in fourth. Ekstrom, who started the day in second, has now plummeted to fifth, while WRC legend Sebastien Loeb maintains his hold on sixth despite a half-hour setback of his own. Price sits in seventh, just ahead of early leader Moraes, who faced additional woes with a hefty 15-minute penalty. Rounding out the provisional top ten are Century’s Matthieu Serradori and Dacia’s Gutierrez.

As the Dakar Rally continues to unfold, the drama and unpredictability only amplify the excitement. With rivalries intensifying and fortunes shifting, fans are on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what Stage 10 will bring!

Tags: 100-acre-wood-rally2025-dakar-rally2025-toyota-usa-track-and-field-championshipscarlos-sainz-srDaciaenergylandiaEryk GoczalNani Roma
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