The seventh stage of the Dakar 2025 allowed Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Overdrive) to almost make up his deficit on Henk Lategan (Toyota). But be careful: Mattias Ekström (Ford) and Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia) have not said their last word…
Barring any major surprises, one of these four musketeers will win the 2025 Dakar. For three of them, it would be a first. Henk Lategan (Toyota) is competing in the world’s most famous rally raid for only the fourth time, while Mattias Ekström (Ford) has never been able to reach the top of the table during his three years with Audi. .
Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Overdrive), known to be mentally fragile, dreams of being the first Saudi to win the Dakar, especially at home, in his desert. The three men sit on the provisional podium five days before the finish in Shubaytah, but the main threat comes from behind. Fourth, Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia) is in ambush to seek a sixth title, after losing time during the first week.
A four-way fight for final victory
Looking at the general classification, all four men have their chance, with different strengths and weaknesses and also very different races since Bisha’s departure. Henk Lategan has led the rally since the second stage, to everyone’s surprise, but his lead melted like snow in the sun this Sunday. In a stage with perilous navigation, the South African had a drink, but avoided drowning: he clung to his leading position for only 21 seconds less than Yazeed Al-Rajhi.
The Saudi, winner of the terrible 48 hours, where he had lost his illusions in 2024, has shown great consistency since the start of the Dakar, like Mattias Ekström (Ford). Without being talked about, the Swede came back 10 minutes behind Lategan by taking second place in the seventh stage, behind the winner of the day Lucas Moraes.
-Ford and Dacia, hitting the mark on the first try?
Ford and Dacia are facing a colossal challenge: win the Dakar in their first year with their Raptor and Sandrider. Despite the abandonment of his leader Carlos Sainz, Mattias Ekström flies the colors of the American manufacturer, like his teammate Mitch Guthrie, brilliant 5th for his first participation in Ultimate, at 28 years old.
At Dacia, the abandonment of Sébastien Loeb left the keys to the truck – or rather the 4×4 – to Nasser Al-Attiyah, designated co-leader. The Qatari came back 21 minutes behind Henk Lategan, after whom he was 35 minutes behind after the 5th stage. With the dedicated support of Cristina Gutierrez’s other Dacia and the mechanical talents of her co-driver Pablo Moreno, the five-time winner of the event can claim a new crown and get closer to the eight car crowns of Stéphane Peterhansel, record holder of victories.
In the top 10, in addition to Edouard Boulanger, Nasser Al-Attiyah’s teammate, the only French are Mathieu Serradori and Loïc Minaudier, authors of a very good start to the rally. The French duo is in 6th place in the standings at the wheel of the 4-wheel drive CR7 from Century Racing, debuted for the first time on this Dakar.
The general classification of the Dakar 2025 after the 7th stage
- Lategan/Cummings (Toyota) : 37h13min08s
- Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk (Overdrive) : +0:21
- Ekström/Bergkvist (Ford) : +10:25
- Al-Attiyah/Boulanger (Dacia) : +21:57
- Guthrie/Walch (Ford) : +40:01
- Serradori/Minaudier (Century) : +54:20
- Yacopini/Oliveiras (Overdrive): +1.13:05
- Quintero/Zenz (Toyota) : +1.28:32
- Ferreira/Palmeiro (Mini): +1.58:25
- Baragwanath/Cremer (Century) : +2.07:38
Photo credit – Red Bull Content Pool.
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