The Dakar Rally entered its tenth day with a challenging Stage 7 loop around the Al Duwadimi bivouac. The 412km special stage, combined with a 297km liaison, was marked by drama, retirements, and standout performances across categories.
A significant roadbook error caused confusion among the Ultimate class leaders, including Nasser Al-Attiyah and Guillaume De Mévius, who spent nearly an hour searching for a misplaced waypoint. The organisers later nullified a 20km segment from the timings to address the issue. Amid the chaos, Brazilian driver Lucas Moraes emerged victorious, securing his first stage win of the rally.
South African Henk Lategan retained the overall lead in the Ultimate class but saw his advantage narrow. Sweden’s Mattias Ekström, driving a Ford Raptor T1+, climbed closer to the top, trailing by just 10 minutes and 25 seconds. Ekström described the day as a mixed experience: “There was a problem in the roadbook, so we ended up looking like clowns in the circus. That bit wasn’t so fun, but afterward, we drove as well as we could.” Five-time Dakar winner Al-Attiyah also remains in contention, sitting 21 minutes and 57 seconds behind the leader.
However, the stage also saw heartbreak for Australian Toby Price and 2009 champion Giniel de Villiers, both forced to retire after their co-drivers suffered injuries. Price revealed that his co-driver, Sam Sunderland, sustained a concussion following visibility issues caused by dust: “It’s a shame to finish like this, but we can fix cars, not humans. Sam’s health comes first.”
On two wheels, Australian Daniel Sanders continued to dominate the bike category, clinching his fifth stage win for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. His flawless performance extended his overall lead to 15 minutes and 33 seconds. Reflecting on his success, Sanders said, “My speed was good, my head was good, and my focus was good. We’re here to win, and we’re doing everything we can to make that happen.”
In the Challenger class, American Corbin Leaverton delivered another impressive run, securing his second stage win of the rally. While he climbed to sixth overall, his teammate Gonçalo Guerreiro remains better positioned to challenge for the title, sitting 30 minutes and 37 seconds behind leader Nicolas Cavigliasso. Guerreiro expressed satisfaction with the day’s performance, saying, “We’re giving everything we have on every stage. I’m happy we could pass the big dunes today.”
The SSV class saw Chilean veteran Francisco “Chaleco” López inch closer to second place, reducing the gap to Frenchman Xavier De Soultrait to just 20 minutes.
Looking ahead, Stage 8 will take competitors from Al Duwadimi to Riyadh, featuring a demanding 480km timed special stage. Organisers have described it as “hectic and varied,” with the potential to shake up the overall standings.
The Dakar Rally continues to deliver its signature blend of excitement and unpredictability, as competitors battle the elements, mechanical challenges, and each other for glory.
2025 Dakar Rally Overall Standings After Stage 7:
Ultimate
- Henk Lategan (ZAF) – 37:13.08
- Mattias Ekström (SWE) +10.25
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) +21.57
- Mitch Guthrie Jr. (USA) +40.01
- Seth Quintero (USA) +1:28.32
Challenger
- Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) – 40:35.04
- Gonçalo Guerreiro (POR) +30.37
- Corbin Leaverton (USA) +3:56.15
SSV
- Brock Heger (USA) – 41:56.42
- Francisco López (CHL) +1:56.04
Bike
- Daniel Sanders (AUS) – 39:29.22
- Luciano Benavides (ARG) +37.32
Source: Redbull Content Pool
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
