AL HENAKIYAH — The penultimate day of the 2026 Dakar Rally delivered one of the most tactical and visually stunning performances of the edition. Stage 11, spanning 883 kilometers from Bisha to Al Henakiyah, saw a total Ford lockout in the car category and a strategic shakeup in the motorcycle standings as the race nears its grand finale in Yanbu.
In the Ultimate (Car) category, Ford Racing achieved a rare “triple podium,” with Mattias Ekström claiming the stage win, followed by teammates Romain Dumas and Carlos Sainz Sr. The result underscores the American constructor’s growing dominance in the T1+ class. While Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia Sandriders) maintained his overall lead, Nani Roma (Ford) successfully trimmed four minutes off the gap, leaving the Qatari veteran with an 8-minute and 40-second cushion heading into the final day. The stage was marred by heartbreak for Toyota’s Henk Lategan, whose title hopes evaporated after losing nearly two hours to mechanical failure.
The Bike category saw Skyler Howes (Honda) secure his first stage victory of 2026, leading a 1-2 finish for Monster Energy Honda HRC ahead of Adrien Van Beveren. The spotlight, however, was on the championship duel: Luciano Benavides (KTM) reclaimed the overall lead from Ricky Brabec. Following a calculated ride through the technical rocky passes, Benavides now holds a razor-thin 23-second lead over Brabec.
“Today was a game of chess,” noted Skyler Howes at the Al Henakiyah bivouac. “Opening the final stage tomorrow is the ultimate challenge, but we’ve positioned ourselves for a fight to the finish.”
The rally concludes tomorrow with Stage 12, a final 311-kilometer sprint to Yanbu, where the champions of the 2026 Dakar Rally will be crowned on the shores of the Red Sea.