2025 Dakar: Al Rajhi takes first title after close finish in the desert!
Dakar Rally Content Pool
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The 2025 Dakar Rally proved to be a close one in the Saudi Arabian desert. Only approximately four minutes separated the two frontrunners in the desert, with Yazeed Al Rajhi claiming his first ever Dakar title in the cars competition.
Stage 12 in the cars category was won by the Lucas Moraes (together with Armand Monleon), as the Brazilian finished a minute and a half ahead of Dakar legend Nasser Al Attiyah. Henk Lantegan, who started the day second in the overall standings finished third.
The South African however could only cut the gap to Al Rajhi 2 minutes and 14 seconds, therefore, it was enough for the Saudi driver to finish the stage in thirteenth position. Still, two Toyota cars finished at the top, as Al Rajhi's Overdrive Racing also drove the Japanese car, while Lantegan drove for Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Completing the podium was Mattias Ekström, with Ford making their debut at the famous competition. His teammate and the Williams driver Carlos Sainz's father, Carlos Sainz Sr., had to retire after a crash from the competition, but did congratulate his team and Swedish driver on social media. "Big congratulations to Ford M-Sport on an amazing debut Dakar with a podium for Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist. Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch ended 5th, and Nani Roma and Alex Haro gave their absolute all. Great job, team. Now we know what we have to do, so let’s keep pushing!" the former champion wrote.
In terms of the other categories, Australian Daniel Sanders won in the bikes category, Nicolás Cavigliasso and Brock Heger topped Challenger (T3) and SSV (T4) categories respectively, while in the trucks competition, Martin Macík claimed the 2025 title.
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