The 2025 Dakar Rally’s third stage, covering a challenging route between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, offered intense action and dramatic developments across categories.
Ultimate Class Drama
Sweden’s Mattias Ekström surged into third overall for Ford M-Sport, capitalizing on reigning champion Carlos Sainz’s retirement. Ekström trails leader Henk Lategan by 9 minutes and 34 seconds, with Nasser Al-Attiyah in second. Reflecting on his strategy, Ekström said, “We did our best to drive smart today. We’re happy with where we are.”
However, Sébastien Loeb’s title ambitions suffered after his Dacia Sandrider rolled at high speed. Despite significant damage, he continued after Cristina Gutiérrez provided spare parts. “I hit a rut that turned us sideways,” Loeb explained.
Seth Quintero narrowly missed a second stage win, hindered by a late puncture. Meanwhile, Guillaume De Mévius delivered a solid top-four finish.
Bikes: Navigation Challenges
Daniel Sanders saw his overall lead diminish as rivals gained ground. An electronic roadbook failure left the Australian lost on the course. “I picked the wrong person to follow,” Sanders admitted. Luciano Benavides closed the gap by five minutes, while Edgar Canet led the Rally2 category for Red Bull KTM.
Challenger Class: Akeel Impresses
Saudi Arabia’s Dania Akeel delivered a strong performance, finishing just 26 seconds behind leader Nicolas Cavigliasso. Akeel described the stage as “rocky and twisty with challenging navigation.”
SSV: López Bounces Back
Francisco “Chaleco” López rebounded from Stage 2 setbacks, securing his first stage win of the year. The SSV convoy now heads into the Marathon Stage, tackling AlUla’s canyons without overnight mechanical support.
Overall Standings (After Stage 3)
Ultimate:
- Henk Lategan (ZAF) – 19:04.53
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) +07.17
- Mattias Ekström (SWE) +09.34
Challenger:
- Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) – 20:24.43
- Gonçalo Guerreiro (POR) +19.29
- Corbin Leaverton (USA) +22.09
Bike:
- Daniel Sanders (AUS) – 20:05.00
- Luciano Benavides (ARG) +17.31
The competitors now face Stage 4, the first leg of the Marathon Stage, promising even greater tests of endurance and skill.
Source: Redbull Content Pool
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
