Dakar Rally Highlights: Stage 9 Overview

The 2026 Dakar Rally entered its most grueling phase on January 13 with Stage 9, the first day of the second 48-hour marathon stage (no external assistance allowed), featuring a 418km timed special (within a 541km total route) from Wadi Ad-Dawasir to a remote Bivouac Refuge.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Competitors faced rocky tracks with frequent pace changes, treacherous navigation, and a stunning final dune crossing—testing mechanical reliability, physical endurance, and mental fortitude to the limit. Separate routes for bikes and cars added complexity, with teams forced to self-repair overnight in minimalist shelters.

In the Bikes category, Luciano Benavides (#77, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) delivered another masterclass, winning the stage in 04h 45′ 12” while opening the road and collecting crucial time bonuses. His back-to-back victories propelled him into a commanding overall lead.

Kevin Benavides (L) of the Odyssey Academy by BBR Team and Luciano Benavides (R) of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing // Florent Gooden / DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool //

Daniel Sanders (#1, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) fought hard for second (+00h 05′ 18”), narrowing the gap slightly but unable to reclaim the top spot. Ricky Brabec (#9, Monster Energy Honda HRC) secured third, keeping Honda’s pressure alive. Tosha Schareina (#68) and Skyler Howes (#10) rounded out a strong top five, with the field bracing for the marathon’s second day and potential attrition.

In the Cars (Ultimate Class), drama unfolded as overnight leader Nasser Al-Attiyah (#299, The Dacia Sandriders) suffered major navigation setbacks, losing over 15 minutes and dropping positions. Eryk Goczał (#205, Energylandia Rally Team Toyota) stunned the field with a breakthrough stage win in 04h 35′ 48”.

Nani Roma (#227, Ford Racing) capitalized brilliantly, surging to second on the stage and leaping into the overall lead. Carlos Sainz (#225, Ford Racing) finished sixth despite penalties, forming a Ford 1-2 overall. Toyota’s Henk Lategan (#202) and others limited damage, but the multi-brand battle intensified amid rising mechanical and navigational challenges.

As the marathon continues into its second day with no service crews, self-sufficiency and smart strategy will be decisive. Benavides dominates on bikes, Ford surges in cars—the 2026 Dakar Rally remains unpredictable and unforgiving!

Dakar Rally: Bikes Stage 9 Results (Top 10)

Pos.	N°	Rider	Team	Time	Behind	Penalty
1	77	Luciano Benavides	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	04h 45′ 12”	–	–
2	1	Daniel Sanders	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	04h 50′ 30”	+00h 05′ 18”	–
3	9	Ricky Brabec	Monster Energy Honda HRC	04h 52′ 45”	+00h 07′ 33”	–
4	68	Tosha Schareina	Monster Energy Honda HRC	04h 56′ 20”	+00h 11′ 08”	–
5	10	Skyler Howes	Monster Energy Honda HRC	04h 58′ 05”	+00h 12′ 53”	–
6	42	Adrien Van Beveren	Monster Energy Honda HRC	05h 01′ 40”	+00h 16′ 28”	–
7	73	Edgar Canet	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	05h 03′ 15”	+00h 18′ 03”	–
8	11	Ignacio “Nacho” Cornejo	Hero Motorsports Team Rally	05h 05′ 50”	+00h 20′ 38”	–
9	66	Neels Theric	Kove Factory Racing	05h 08′ 22”	+00h 23′ 10”	–
10	46	Ross Branch	Hero Motorsports Team Rally	05h 10′ 55”	+00h 25′ 43”	00h 00′ 10”

Dakar Rally: Bikes Overall Standings After Stage 9 (Top 10)

Pos.	N°	Rider	Team	Time	Behind	Penalty
1	77	Luciano Benavides	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	38h 04′ 02”	–	–
2	1	Daniel Sanders	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	38h 09′ 30”	+00h 05′ 28”	00h 06′ 00”
3	9	Ricky Brabec	Monster Energy Honda HRC	38h 16′ 22”	+00h 12′ 20”	–
4	68	Tosha Schareina	Monster Energy Honda HRC	38h 35′ 23”	+00h 31′ 21”	00h 10′ 00”
5	10	Skyler Howes	Monster Energy Honda HRC	38h 58′ 01”	+00h 53′ 59”	00h 02′ 00”
6	11	Ignacio “Nacho” Cornejo	Hero Motorsports Team Rally	39h 10′ 38”	+01h 06′ 36”	–
7	42	Adrien Van Beveren	Monster Energy Honda HRC	39h 23′ 43”	+01h 19′ 41”	–
8	46	Ross Branch	Hero Motorsports Team Rally	40h 24′ 47”	+02h 20′ 45”	00h 06′ 10”
9	85	Preston Campbell	Monster Energy Honda HRC	40h 31′ 20”	+02h 27′ 18”	–
10	16	Toni Mulec	Bas World KTM Team	40h 40′ 09”	+02h 36′ 07”	00h 00′ 10”

Dakar Rally: Cars Stage 9 Results (Top 10)

Pos.	N°	Driver / Co-Driver	Team	Time	Behind	Penalty
1	205	Eryk Goczał / Szymon Gospodarczyk	Energylandia Rally Team	04h 35′ 48”	–	–
2	227	Nani Roma / Alex Haro	Ford Racing	04h 38′ 55”	+00h 03′ 07”	–
3	202	Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings	Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC	04h 42′ 10”	+00h 06′ 22”	–
4	222	Guillaume de Mévius / Mathieu Baumel	X-Raid Team	04h 44′ 35”	+00h 08′ 47”	–
5	299	Nasser Al-Attiyah / Fabian Lurquin	The Dacia Sandriders	04h 50′ 58”	+00h 15′ 10”	–
6	225	Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz	Ford Racing	04h 52′ 20”	+00h 16′ 32”	00h 01′ 10”
7	219	Sébastien Loeb / Edouard Boulanger	The Dacia Sandriders	04h 55′ 45”	+00h 19′ 57”	–
8	228	Mitch Guthrie / Kellon Walch	Ford Racing	04h 58′ 10”	+00h 22′ 22”	00h 00′ 10”
9	214	Mathieu Serradori / Loïc Minaudier	Century Racing Factory Team	05h 01′ 35”	+00h 25′ 47”	00h 00′ 10”
10	223	Lucas Moraes / Dennis Zenz	The Dacia Sandriders	05h 04′ 00”	+00h 28′ 12”	–

Dakar Rally: Cars Overall Standings After Stage 9 (Top 10)

Pos.	N°	Driver / Co-Driver	Team	Time	Behind	Penalty
1	227	Nani Roma / Alex Haro	Ford Racing	37h 20′ 38”	–	–
2	225	Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz	Ford Racing	37h 21′ 35”	+00h 00′ 57”	00h 01′ 10”
3	299	Nasser Al-Attiyah / Fabian Lurquin	The Dacia Sandriders	37h 23′ 04”	+00h 02′ 26”	00h 02′ 00”
4	202	Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings	Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC	37h 28′ 24”	+00h 07′ 46”	–
5	226	Mattias Ekström / Emil Bergkvist	Ford Racing	37h 35′ 41”	+00h 15′ 03”	00h 00′ 30”
6	219	Sébastien Loeb / Edouard Boulanger	The Dacia Sandriders	37h 45′ 16”	+00h 24′ 38”	–
7	228	Mitch Guthrie / Kellon Walch	Ford Racing	37h 53′ 16”	+00h 32′ 38”	00h 00′ 10”
8	214	Mathieu Serradori / Loïc Minaudier	Century Racing Factory Team	37h 58′ 45”	+00h 38′ 07”	00h 00′ 10”
9	223	Lucas Moraes / Dennis Zenz	The Dacia Sandriders	38h 06′ 01”	+00h 45′ 23”	–
10	205	Eryk Goczał / Szymon Gospodarczyk	Energylandia Rally Team	38h 10′ 28”	+00h 49′ 50”	00h 00′ 20”

The marathon’s second day and the final push to the finish await—endurance, repairs, and bold decisions will define champions in the 2026 Dakar Rally! Stay tuned for more from the Saudi sands.