Nani Roma Takes Dakar Rally Lead as Tough Stage Shakes Up Overall Standings

Posted : 14 January 2026

Spain’s Nani Roma emerged as the new leader of the Dakar Rally car category on Tuesday, guiding Ford to a one-two position alongside compatriot Carlos Sainz after a punishing ninth stage across the Saudi Arabian desert. The demanding route caused significant trouble for several frontrunners, reshuffling the overall classification as the rally entered its decisive phase.

Former leader Nasser Al-Attiyah slipped to third overall after a challenging day but remains firmly in contention, trailing Roma by just one minute and 10 seconds. Toyota’s Henk Lategan sits fourth, though the South African faces a larger gap of around five minutes after enduring a difficult stage filled with mechanical and navigation issues.

Roma, who last led the Dakar more than a decade ago during his 2012 title-winning run, battled through three punctures but remained upbeat. “Everyone had problems today,” he said. “We’re happy to be in this position.” Sainz, meanwhile, admitted navigation proved tricky after cars diverged from the bike routes, leaving drivers without tracks to follow in certain sections.

Lategan described his experience as chaotic, recounting a series of setbacks including punctures, getting lost, a shattered windscreen, and losing power steering. Forced to continue with impaired visibility, his crew removed the damaged screen and pressed on wearing goggles. “Driving these cars without power steering is incredibly hard,” he explained.

The 410-kilometre stage from Wadi Ad Dawasir to the overnight bivouac—forming the first half of a marathon stage—was won by 21-year-old Polish driver Eryk Goczal, competing in a non-factory Toyota. He finished comfortably ahead of his uncle Michal Goczal, while his father Marek placed further down the order.

Sainz, 63, received a one-minute and 10-second time penalty for speeding and ended the stage in seventh place, still managing to stay ahead of most title rivals. Roma finished eighth on the day but retained the overall lead, with Sainz now just 57 seconds behind.

Swede Mattias Ekström, previously second overall for Ford, dropped to fifth after a costly navigation error, falling more than 11 minutes off the lead. Nine-time world rally champion Sébastien Loeb currently sits sixth for Dacia.

In the motorcycle category, Spain’s Tosha Schareina claimed the stage victory for Honda, while Argentina’s Luciano Benavides lost his overall lead after navigation troubles. Australia’s reigning champion Daniel Sanders capitalised to move into first place, extending his advantage over American Ricky Brabec to more than six minutes.

The Dakar Rally concludes on Saturday along the Red Sea coast, marking the opening round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) season and setting the tone for an intense year ahead.

Nani Roma Takes Dakar Rally Lead as Tough Stage Shakes Up Overall Standings

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics