Luciano Benavides wins Dakar 2026 with Sanders fif...

2026 Dakar Rally

Stage 13 (Closing) – Yanbu to Yanbu

KTM’s Luciano Benavides has taken the Dakar Rally 2026 victory over Honda HRC’s Ricky Brabec by the narrowest of margins, simply two-seconds separating the main duo when the timesheets had been confirmed. That was regardless of Brabec heading into the ultimate spherical with a 3m20s benefit.

Refusing to give up regardless of setbacks, stress, and one of many closest battles in Dakar historical past, the Argentine delivered when it mattered most, attacking proper to the ultimate kilometre on his KTM 450 RALLY to assert his first Dakar Rally victory. Benavides’ win – the closest within the historical past of the occasion – marks KTM’s twenty first Dakar title, following Dakar triumphs by his brother Kevin in 2021 and 2023.

Luciano Benavides – 2026 Dakar Rally Champion

“I nonetheless can’t consider it. I by no means stopped dreaming. I awakened immediately stuffed with power and motivation, simply fascinated about what I may do and trusting in myself, and that was the important thing for this Dakar. I did this for myself, and this sense is unreal. To win by simply two seconds is unbelievable. I even missed the final two corners and almost crashed, so it was proper on the restrict, however it paid off. I truthfully can’t describe this second. That is my ninth Dakar, and it exhibits that when you by no means cease dreaming, by no means cease believing, and maintain combating to your targets, something is feasible. I by no means gave up. Even immediately, after I was shedding time and I noticed Ricky pushing onerous, I stored telling myself it wasn’t over till the final kilometre. Ultimately, he made a small mistake and I received it proper. It’s simply unreal. Vamos Argentina! Now it’s time to rejoice with my household, my pals, my sponsors, and everybody who has supported me via all these years to attain this dream.”

The maker from Mattighofen defending the title of Australian Daniel Sanders, who has completed in fifth place, regardless of racing with vital accidents after an earlier excessive velocity crash.

Brabec knew that opening the stage would depart him with out tracks to observe, putting a premium on exact navigation as he chased a 3rd Dakar title. The ultimate particular stage featured two timed sections separated by a liaison, Brabec set a robust tempo early, however a navigation problem simply seven kilometres from the end value him useful time, in the end denying him the coveted Bedouin Trophy.

Ricky Brabec

“This Dakar was an actual battle from begin to end. On the ultimate stage, a fairly complicated word led me to decide on a line that wasn’t the right one. Once I turned again, Luciano was coming behind me and, seeing the scenario, he stayed heading in the right direction, which made the distinction in such an in depth battle.”

Saturday’s ultimate stage 13 of the 2026 Dakar Rally gives a comparatively brief dash set out in a loop from Yanbu. With simply 108 kilometres raced towards the clock, all riders can be pushing onerous to safe a robust ultimate place within the rankings.

Sanders managed to retain a 1m31s lead over a charging Adrien van Beveren, making two Manufacturing facility KTMs within the prime 5, to 3 Honda HRC riders, with Schareina third for Honda, and Van Beveren simply on the skin in sixth.

Daniel Sanders

“I’m actually completely satisfied for the staff, and that’s simply Dakar – it’s by no means over till it’s over. On daily basis is totally different and something can occur. I solely heard the information on the end. I used to be in a variety of ache and truthfully simply able to lie down, however that gave me the additional motivation to go and see Luciano and congratulate him. It’s so cool and actually unimaginable for the entire staff. Sadly, I used to be unfortunate in my very own race and out of the battle for the win, however the consequence remains to be within the staff, and that’s one thing particular. Large congratulations to everybody who labored so onerous once more this yr, consistency has actually paid off.”

This marked the second profession Dakar podium for Spaniard Schareina and the fourth for the American Brabec.

Tosha Schareina

“A number of years in the past, I used to be combating simply to be within the race. At this time, standing on the rostrum virtually looks like enterprise as common. However I’ve to be real looking; it feels so good to face on the rostrum. I’ve fought my complete life for this. I’m completely satisfied that we have now put two Hondas on the rostrum. I nonetheless want to seek out just a few features in sure areas, however I’m heading in the right direction. The penalty didn’t assist me within the total, so I needed to pivot my technique. Typically it’s important to pay extra consideration to these particulars or the navigation, and I used to be additionally a bit off the tempo within the high-speed sections.”

Skyler Howes

“Loads of loopy stuff on the market. I’m tremendous completely satisfied to make it to the end line of this one, a variety of adversity, some issues to beat and a few actually good driving. I’m proud of how I rode, the staff did a terrific job, they did superior with the mechanics, the logistics and I’m tremendous completely satisfied to be part of Monster Power Honda HRC and to make it to the end line of this one. Loads of issues to scrub up on my finish. So far as every thing else that went for me this race, stage one I wanted somewhat bit extra persistence. I received actually fortunate this time, my mother is trying over me and she or he made positive I received to the end line of this one. So I’m tremendous happy with that and this one is for her.”

Adrien Van Beveren

“They typically say that simply ending a Dakar is a victory in itself, and I wish to take coronary heart from that, however I additionally really feel like I may’ve used a 3rd week! I had a troublesome first week, struggling a bit to seek out my rhythm and coping with all types of drama: a crash, a coil of wire getting caught in my wheel. It was a hyper-eventful opening week. The second week began significantly better; the phases had been actually strong, we bagged a win and I used to be within the hunt day-after-day. That’s what I’m going to remove from this to come back again in 2027. I feel I took a little bit of a knock to my confidence in Portugal. Getting your mojo again after a crash like that takes time, and I feel that course of was simply what I wanted.”

Edgar Canet began 31 minutes after Brabec, and gained the stage by simply six-seconds over his teammate Benavides. The younger Spaniard gaining the higher hand on the house straight of the particular. That is his third stage win of the 2026 version and his third in Yanbu.

For Canet, the 2026 Dakar Rally represented a serious milestone in his profession. Competing within the RallyGP class for the primary time, the Spaniard made a right away affect by successful the prologue and stage one, turning into the youngest-ever stage winner within the bike class.

A problem together with his rear mousse whereas pushing onerous on stage 5 halted his cost within the total standings, however Canet continued to show spectacular velocity and powerful navigation all through the rest of the rally. Gaining invaluable expertise, Edgar accomplished his second Dakar and first at RallyGP stage in emphatic trend, ending the occasion on a excessive

Edgar Canet

“It’s been a extremely loopy race for me. These two weeks had been stuffed with feelings, so many ups and downs, however an important factor is that we made it to the top. I gained three phases, and Luciano taking the general win is large. I’m tremendous, tremendous completely satisfied for him. It’s been a loopy Dakar, and I couldn’t be happier for the entire staff and the complete KTM household. We confirmed all through the race which bike is the quickest within the desert, and that was an enormous goal for us. Now the motivation is even increased to maintain working, maintain combating, and maintain bettering. I do know precisely what my foremost purpose is for subsequent yr, so I’m actually motivated to maintain pushing and maintain coaching.”

David Brock completed the ultimate stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally in 87th of 91 racers who made it the total distance, and was 83rd total.

Rally 2

In Rally2, Toni Mulec is the winner of the Dakar, beating Preston Campbell by 4m37s and Martim Ventura by 1h37m15s. The Slovenian has taken the crown from Edgar Canet (2025) and secured the second triumph for BAS World KTM, which prevailed with Mason Klein in 2022.

Competing in his first Dakar Rally, Preston Campbell demonstrated outstanding composure and maturity regardless of restricted expertise, having contested solely two World Rally-Raid Championship rounds previous to the occasion.

The 26-year-old American rider persistently ran among the many Rally2 frontrunners all through the rally and after taking the general Rally2 lead on stage 4, he held the highest place till stage eleven. Though he started the ultimate stage trailing rival Toni Mulec by greater than six minutes, Campbell delivered a robust closing efficiency to cut back the hole to simply 4m37s in second. Campbell can be the top-ranked rookie.

Preston Campbell – Rally 2 Runner-Up

“I simply tried to do my greatest on a regular basis and a few days weren’t pretty much as good because the others, however I’m completely satisfied to be the highest rookie and make it into the highest ten total, so I’m tremendous proud of that. I can’t thank the staff sufficient and I sit up for the following one.”

Martim Ventura skilled the total spectrum of Dakar challenges. The 25-year-old Portuguese rider claimed his maiden Dakar stage victory on stage two, however suffered a major setback two phases later when a mechanical problem value him over two hours. Dropping to ninth total, Ventura responded with dedication, mounting a formidable comeback that included one other stage win within the second week and a hard-earned ultimate spot on the Rally2 podium.

Martim Ventura – Rally 2 Third

“I’m tremendous proud of my efficiency at my first Dakar Rally. We had some issues in the course of the race which pushed me again a bit within the total. I’ve rather a lot to enhance, I’m 100% positive that at some point I’ll be on the highest step, so I’m engaged on it on a regular basis and any longer. I’m tremendous completely satisfied and my bike labored so effectively, so thanks to the staff.”

Final

Toby Value led the Toyota armada house, ending eighth within the first Dakar he has accomplished on 4 wheels for the works staff. The Japanese marque, a three-time world champion within the producers’ standings, made an uncharacteristically gradual begin. Dacia (160 factors) leads Ford (-33) and Toyota (-63) within the producers’ rating.

Nasser Al Attiyah ended the 2025 season with a bitter capsule to swallow after lacking the ultimate braking level of the yr. The Qatari received the ball rolling on the fifth season together with his sixth Dakar title, constructed on his dominance within the dunes of stage 6.

The defending world champion, Lucas Moraes, now his teammate at Dacia, performed a quiet sport all through the 2 weeks of racing, mirrored in his seventh-place end. Henk Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing) emerged because the Qatari’s major challenger till a sequence of mechanicals in stage 11 proved deadly to his possibilities.

The South African, the breakout star of the 2024 season, completed the opening spherical twenty first, the worst efficiency of any favorite, after Yazeed Al Rajhi. The Saudi title holder and 2023–24 world championship runner-up threw within the towel early within the first week.

The Ford Racing vehicles proved to be essentially the most able to upsetting Al Attiyah, Loeb and their Sandriders. Nani Roma and Mattias Ekström positioned their Raptors on the Dakar podium forward of the Frenchman.

The Swede sits forward of the Catalan within the championship, thanks in no small half to 4 particular wins. Carlos Sainz rounded out the highest 5, placing three Fords into the elite circle. The old-school stars have all made a flying begin to the championship.

Workforce Supervisor Quotes

Andreas Hölzl – Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing Rally Workforce Supervisor

“We’re extremely happy with what Luciano, Edgar, Chucky, and the complete staff have achieved – it’s truthfully unbelievable. We fought proper till the final metre and by no means gave up, and that was the important thing. Dakar all the time writes its personal tales, and this yr was one other good instance of that. Luciano fought from day one till the end; he’s a real fighter, and doubtless this has been the perfect race of his profession.

“It’s an unimaginable achievement. Edgar as soon as once more confirmed simply how robust he’s in successful the ultimate stage. I’m actually completely satisfied we have now him within the staff, as a result of I’m satisfied he’ll win a Dakar at some point. And Chucky, our actual survivor, deserves huge respect. I’m extraordinarily happy with these three riders and of the entire staff.”

Ruben Faria – Monster Power Honda HRC Basic Supervisor

“The final day of Dakar 2026 didn’t deliver the consequence we had been anticipating, however that is Dakar — that is rally raid. Six kilometres from the top of the ultimate stage, Ricky turned left barely too early. He didn’t take the right monitor, misplaced a major period of time, and crossed the end line simply two seconds behind Luciano.

“Going into immediately, Ricky had a superb margin because of the time bonuses — a spot of 4 minutes and 42 seconds over second place. With that small mistake, we misplaced the Dakar by simply two seconds. After all, we wished extra. We wished to win, however we have now to simply accept the consequence.

“Total, it was nonetheless a robust efficiency for the staff: Ricky completed second, Tosha third, Skyler fourth, and Adrien sixth. Ricky delivered a really strong Dakar. Tosha made a mistake within the first week however nonetheless managed to complete with a robust total consequence. Skyler struggled in the course of the first week however recovered effectively within the second. Adrien misplaced virtually an hour when a cable that was in the midst of nowhere received caught in his wheel , but he had a wonderful second week.

“Naturally, we anticipated extra — the purpose was to win, and we completed extremely shut. This has by no means occurred earlier than. We’ll maintain pushing, intention to win the following races, and are available again even stronger for the following Dakar. The staff did a terrific job, and the Honda bikes carried out extraordinarily effectively all through the rally.”

2026 Dakar Rally Stage 13 Outcomes

2026 Dakar Rally Closing Standings after Stage 13

2026 Dakar Rally Route/Schedule

2026 Dakar Rally Route/Schedule