The 2025 Dakar Rally resumed with Stage 6, spanning a challenging 224km liaison and a grueling 605km special route from Ha’il to Al Duwadimi. Following Friday’s Rest Day, competitors faced difficulties regaining their momentum, but Belgian Guillaume De Mévius delivered a standout performance, earning his first stage win of the race and climbing to 15th in the Ultimate standings.
De Mévius expressed optimism after his victory, saying, “That’s a good day for us. We had a bad first week, so we push during this second week. Our target is to pick up World Championship points and also secure a top-10 spot.”
Ultimate Class: Al-Attiyah Pushes for the Lead
Five-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah showed his mettle, gaining over four-and-a-half minutes on leader Henk Lategan. Despite the challenges of navigating dunes, Al-Attiyah, driving the Dacia Sandrider, remained determined. “On the dunes, it was not easy, but we did a good job. I’m sure we can be even faster to try and get back the time we’ve lost,” he commented.
Bikes: Sanders Holds Firm
In the bikes category, Daniel Sanders of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing maintained his overall lead, leveraging his favorable starting position to solidify his advantage. Sanders acknowledged the difficulty of regaining focus after the Rest Day, stating, “It’s tough to get back on the rhythm.” His KTM teammates, Luciano Benavides and Edgar Canet, opted for caution on the demanding stage.
SSV Class: López Rises to the Podium
Chilean veteran Francisco “Chaleco” López claimed another stage win, advancing to the overall podium in the SSV category. Reflecting on the demanding day, López said, “We drove the final kilometres at night-time and this was difficult. This race has been a real adventure and we still have the Empty Quarter to come.”
Challenger Class: Leaverton Impresses
American Corbin Leaverton, supported by his co-driver Taye Perry, delivered a strong performance to secure second place on the stage and seventh overall in the Challenger class. “I probably enjoyed that stage more than any I’ve raced since I’ve been here. Shout-out to my co-driver Taye, it was a faultless day from her in the navigator’s seat,” Leaverton shared.
Stage 7 Preview
Sunday’s Stage 7 introduces a unique challenge as two-wheel and four-wheel competitors take separate routes, leaving the Ultimate class crews without bike tracks to follow through the sand.
2025 Dakar Rally Selected Standings After Stage 6
Ultimate Class
- Henk Lategan (ZAF) 32:51.36
- Mattias Ekström (SWE) +22.27
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) +30.25
- Mitch Guthrie Jr. (USA) +50.16
- Seth Quintero (USA) +1:36.37
Challenger Class
- Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) 35:57.59
- Gonçalo Guerreiro (POR) +35.02
- Corbin Leaverton (USA) +4:05.26
SSV Class
- Brock Heger (USA) 37:21.01
- Francisco López (CHL) +1:47.27
Bike Category
- Daniel Sanders (AUS) 35:18.49
- Luciano Benavides (ARG) +30.08
- Edgar Canet (ESP) +1:16.59
Stay tuned for more updates as the 2025 Dakar Rally continues its journey through the Arabian Desert.
Source: Redbull Content Pool
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
