Dakar 2026: Mini’s Stunning Comeback Thwarts Ford’s Dominance as Ekstrom Crashes Down the Rankings!
In a breathtaking twist of fate at the Dakar Rally 2026, X-raid Mini’s Guillaume de Mevius snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, overtaking Ford’s Mattias Ekstrom in a dramatic finale on the very first stage! The opening act of this grueling race took place on Sunday, showcasing a fierce 305km battle around the unforgiving terrain of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.
Ekstrom, the Ford driver who appeared to be on track for an easy win, commanded the stage for a significant stretch, seizing the lead at the second checkpoint. By the time he reached the 70km mark, he had built a comfortable cushion of over a minute in his Ford Raptor, leaving the competition in the dust. De Mevius, who was his closest adversary, trailed behind, 53 seconds off the pace, until a sudden technical glitch temporarily erased him from the leaderboard.
As the race unfolded, Ekstrom maintained a solid lead of 1 minute and 20 seconds over Nasser Al-Attiyah by the penultimate checkpoint, while Marek Goczal and Martin Prokop chased closely in third and fourth. But the rally’s unpredictable nature reared its head in the final 45km stretch, filled with treacherous dunes, sandy expanses, and rocky paths. In a shocking turn of events, Ekstrom’s position plummeted as he battled through the challenging terrain, and the Mini of de Mevius surged ahead, ultimately crossing the finish line first with a stunning 40-second margin!
This victory marks a significant achievement for Mini, marking their second consecutive opening-stage triumph at the Dakar. Meanwhile, Al-Attiyah, who had a rocky start that saw him languishing outside the top 10 early on, staged a remarkable comeback to secure second place. Prokop held firm to claim third in his customer Ford Raptor, while Ekstrom’s fortunes waned further, slipping to fourth due to a 10-second penalty for speeding.
In a fierce display of competition, Goczal finished in fifth place in his leading Toyota Hilux, just ahead of factory driver Guy Botterill, while four-time Dakar champion Carlos Sainz Sr. experienced a mixed bag of emotions. After climbing to third, Sainz faltered and ended the stage sixth, trailing de Mevius by a significant 1 minute and 54 seconds. Ford’s lineup didn’t go unnoticed either, with Nani Roma and Mitch Guthrie finishing eighth and ninth, solidifying Ford’s presence in the top 10 with five cars in total.
Adding to the day’s drama, nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb, who had been a fierce contender, suffered a harsh setback, losing over three minutes and finishing the stage in 10th place. Toyota’s factory World-Rally Raid Championship team faced a dismal outing, with drivers finishing 16th, 17th, and 18th. Two-time bike champion Toby Price led the charge for Toyota in 16th, while last year’s runner-up Henk Lategan struggled just behind him after opening the road in challenging conditions. Seth Quintero rounded out the trio in 18th after incurring a two-minute penalty.
Reigning Dakar champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi also faced a catastrophic start to his title defense, losing an astonishing 12 minutes due to stage difficulties, compounded by a massive 16-minute penalty that left him languishing outside the top 20.
As the Dakar Rally 2026 unfolds, the stakes only grow higher, and the competition fiercer. With thrilling twists and turns already shaking up the leaderboard, who will rise to the occasion and claim glory in this ultimate test of endurance and skill? The world is watching!
