Bisha, Saudi Arabia – The 2025 Dakar Rally roared to life as Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Henk Lategan delivered a sensational performance on the tricky 29km prologue stage, threading through the desert terrain with precision to clock the fastest time. The South African ace, alongside co-driver Brett Cummings, finished just one second ahead of M-Sport Ford’s Mattias Ekström, setting the stage for a thrilling rally.
A Fiery Start: Top Contenders Flex Their Muscles
Lategan’s blistering 15m28s run gave him an edge over Ekström, who lamented a slight mistake that cost him precious seconds.
“I knew I lost time with that hairpin,” Ekström admitted. “It was like racing between trees—chaotic but exhilarating.”
Five-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, piloting a Dacia Sandrider, clinched third, 20 seconds off Lategan’s pace. The Qatari veteran hailed the challenging opener:
“It was tricky, but I’m happy to start strong and confident. Strategy will be everything in the coming days.”
Rounding out the top five were three-time W2RC champion Rokas Baciuška in an Overdrive Racing Toyota and Century Racing’s Brian Baragwanath, whose determined drive placed him 30 seconds adrift.
Rising Stars Shine in the Prologue
It was a promising debut for Dakar rookies Toby Price and Sam Sunderland, who transitioned from two wheels to four. The former bike champions showcased their adaptability in an Overdrive Racing Hilux, finishing just 44 seconds behind Lategan.
Meanwhile, Sébastien Loeb, driving the second Dacia Sandrider, was satisfied with a sixth-place finish. “We kept it clean and made it into the top 10, which was our goal. Tomorrow, the real test begins,” Loeb commented.
Strategic Moves: The Importance of the 48-Hour Chrono
The prologue served as a precursor to the grueling 48-hour Chrono stage beginning Sunday. Crews must navigate over 400km of treacherous terrain during Saturday’s loop around Bisha before the two-day marathon, where strategic road placement will play a critical role.
Al-Attiyah, likely to start eighth on the road, emphasized the importance of positioning:
“The Chrono stage is where everything changes. We’ve got a solid strategy to minimize time loss and keep our momentum.”
Defending Dakar champion Carlos Sainz finds himself outside the top 10, a deliberate move to take advantage of cleaner conditions. However, the flip side means leading the pack in the Chrono stage—a daunting prospect.
Prologue Drama and Lessons Learned
Not everyone escaped the prologue unscathed. X-raid Mini JCW’s Guillaume de Mévius suffered a puncture that cost him four minutes, while M-Sport Ford’s Mitch Guthrie and Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed Al Rajhi struggled to break into the top 10.
Reflecting on his strong start, Lategan acknowledged the fine line between success and disaster:
“You can be fast or you can be nowhere. We pushed hard, but it’s a delicate balance on stages like this.”
Leaderboard Highlights
- Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings (Toyota Gazoo Racing) – 15m28s
- Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist (M-Sport Ford) – +1s
- Nasser Al-Attiyah/Edouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders) – +20s
- Rokas Baciuška/Oriol Mena (Overdrive Racing) – +21s
- Brian Baragwanath/Leonard Cremer (Century Racing) – +30s
- Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders) – +33s
The Road Ahead
As the rally progresses, the stakes will rise, and every second will count. The 48-hour Chrono stage looms as the first major hurdle where fortunes could change dramatically. Lategan’s stellar start is a promising omen, but Dakar is a marathon, not a sprint, and the real battle is just beginning.
