Nasser Al-Attiyah remained on course for a sixth career Dakar Rally win in the top car category after last year's runner-up Henk Lategan hit more trouble in the Saudi Arabian desert on Thursday.
The Qatari, driving for the Dacia Sandriders, finished the stage with an eight minute and 40 second lead over closest rival Nani Roma in a factory Ford.
The 13-stage rally ends on Saturday at Yanbu on the kingdom's Red Sea coast.
"Tomorrow, we just need to do the same as today. If we lose two, three or four minutes it’s no problem. We just need to finish this Dakar in first place," said Al-Attiyah.
Ford's Mattias Ekstrom won Thursday's 346km stage from Bisha to Al Henakiyah, the Swede's third stage win of this year's event.
Al-Attiyah had started the day 12 minutes clear of Lategan, who had slipped back after two nightmare days of mechanical misfortune and navigational errors.
On Tuesday the South African had to drive with no power steering and no windscreen, on Wednesday he got lost and ran out of fuel and on Thursday he broke the bearing on his rear left wheel and dropped to 23rd.
🇿🇦 A major setback for Lategan and Cummings. Second last year, a technical issue cost them 1h40 and will likely impact their fight for victory. ⚙️#Dakar2026 #DakarInSaudi pic.twitter.com/YnTM5mMRbj
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 15, 2026
One of those days you can’t explain 🫤
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 15, 2026
↪️Having already suffered a variety of mishaps since the start of the rally, the South African again met with misfortunes today. However, he has not thrown in the towel and has just finished the stage 4 hours behind the winner. As a result,… pic.twitter.com/dmxCU1S3zY
"We saw Lategan stop and we’re sorry for him -- it’s never nice to see someone who is fighting but has a mechanical issue but it’s part of this game," said Roma.
Nine times world rally champion Sebastien Loeb was third overall, but 18 minutes and 37 seconds behind his leading teammate, with Ekstrom fourth.
"I really pushed. I think Nani was at a very high pace as well so it’s going to be hard to take time back from him," commented Loeb.
Ekstrom's teammate and four times Dakar winner Carlos Sainz was third on the stage and fifth overall.
In the motorcycle category, reigning champion Daniel Sanders continued despite a broken collarbone but the Australian has dropped out of contention.
Nice to see Sanders back on the bike 🤗#Dakar2026 #DakarInSaudi pic.twitter.com/G0IEaBA2uL
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 15, 2026
💪 When you realize someone has done 536 km of liaison and 346 km of special with a collarbone injury… it really puts your day into perspective. Sanders is a warrior.#Dakar2026
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 15, 2026
📸 A.S.O. | Julien Delfosse pic.twitter.com/uNmxoe2BLw
American Ricky Brabec relinquished the lead for strategic reasons, the Honda rider and double champion seeking a better start position for Friday's key stage, with Argentina's Luciano Benavides taking over at the top for KTM.
Benavides is 23 seconds clear but will be at a disadvantage in starting Friday ahead of Brabec.
"There's only really one day more left to push... I just did a little bit of strategy today and hopefully it pays off tomorrow," said Brabec.
American Skyler Howes won the stage ahead of French Honda teammate Adrien Van Beveren. Benavides was fourth and Brabec sixth.
🎙️ “I want to be on that podium. I want to fight for the win.”@skylerhowes110 after his Stage victory in Al Henakiyah.#Dakar2026 #DakarInSaudi pic.twitter.com/8eghjEDchw
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 15, 2026