Dakar Rally 2026: A Finish for the History Books
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Events
2026-01-21
Author
João Pereira
A Finish for the History Books
Luciano Benavides secured overall victory after more than 49 hours of racing, defeating Ricky Brabec by just two seconds — the closest finish ever recorded at Dakar. Over approximately 8,000 kilometers of competitive and liaison stages, this razor-thin gap highlighted not only the speed of modern rally racing but also the decisive role of navigation, consistency, and mental resilience.
The rally was marked by relentless intensity from start to finish. Multiple lead changes kept the general classification constantly in flux, with KTM and Honda locked in a fierce battle throughout the event.
The final stages proved decisive, as a small navigation mistake late in the rally reshuffled the top positions and turned the standings on their head. Tosha Schareina completed the podium with a strong and consistent performance, while several riders overcame injuries, mechanical issues, and extreme fatigue to reach the finish. Dakar 2026 once again demonstrated that victory is not only about outright speed, but about surviving every kilometer of one of the harshest environments in world sport.
Standings, Surprises, and Defining Moments
Beyond the headline-grabbing finish, Dakar 2026 was rich in stories that will be remembered for years to come. Benavides’ triumph marked a major milestone in his career, cementing his place among the elite of rally raid and continuing his family’s Dakar legacy. For Brabec, the result was bittersweet — a near-perfect campaign undone by seconds, reinforcing how unforgiving the Dakar can be even for the most experienced champions. Further down the standings, riders such as Daniel Sanders impressed with sheer determination, pushing through injuries and adversity to remain competitive deep into the rally.
Dakar Rally 2026 — Final Standings
Motorcycles (Top 10)
1. Luciano Benavides (ARG) — KTM — 49:00:41
2. Ricky Brabec (USA) — Honda — +00:00:02
3. Tosha Schareina (ESP) — Honda — +00:25:12
4. Skyler Howes (USA) — Honda — +00:56:41
5. Daniel Sanders (AUS) — KTM — +01:03:15
6. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) — Honda — +01:04:46
7. José Ignacio Cornejo (CHI) — Hero — +01:39:50
8. Ross Branch (BOT) — Hero — +02:49:15
9. Toni Mulec (SLO) — KTM — +02:57:18
10. Preston Campbell (USA) — Honda — +03:01:55 
1. Luciano Benavides (ARG) — KTM — 49:00:41
2. Ricky Brabec (USA) — Honda — +00:00:02
3. Tosha Schareina (ESP) — Honda — +00:25:12
4. Skyler Howes (USA) — Honda — +00:56:41
5. Daniel Sanders (AUS) — KTM — +01:03:15
6. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) — Honda — +01:04:46
7. José Ignacio Cornejo (CHI) — Hero — +01:39:50
8. Ross Branch (BOT) — Hero — +02:49:15
9. Toni Mulec (SLO) — KTM — +02:57:18
10. Preston Campbell (USA) — Honda — +03:01:55 
Cars — Ultimate Class (Top 10)
1. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Fabian Lurquin (QAT/BEL) — Dacia Sandrider — 48:56:53
2. Nani Roma / Alex Haro (ESP) — Ford Raptor — +00:09:42
3. Mattias Ekström / Emil Bergkvist (SWE/SWE) — Ford Raptor — +00:14:33
4. Sébastien Loeb / Edouard Boulanger (FRA/FRA) — Dacia Sandrider — +00:15:10
5. Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz (ESP/ESP) — Ford Raptor — +00:28:30
6. Mathieu Serradori / Loïc Minaudier (FRA/FRA) — Century CR7 — +00:45:02
7. Lucas Moraes / Dennis Zenz (BRA/NLD) — Dacia Sandrider — +00:47:50
8. Toby Price / Armand Monleon (AUS/FRA) — Toyota Hilux GR — +00:52:07
9. Seth Quintero / Andrew Short (USA/USA) — Toyota Hilux GR — +01:15:02
10. Saood Variawa / François Cazalet (ZAF/FRA) — Toyota Hilux IMT EVO — +01:23:36
Challenger (T3) – Top 10
1. Pau Navarro / Jan Rosa (ESP/ESP) — Taurus T3 Max — 54:46:21
2. Yasir Seaidan / Xavier Flick (KSA/FRA) — Taurus EVO Max — +00:23:22
3. Nicolás Cavigliasso / Valen Pertegarini (ARG/ARG) — Taurus EVO Max — +00:35:52
4. Lucas del Rio / Bruno Jacomy (ESP/FRA) — Taurus T3 Max — +00:37:09
5. Puck Klaassen / Augusto Sanz (NLD/ESP) — GRallyteam G-Ecko — +00:54:12
6. Ignacio Casale / Carlos Sachs (CHI/ARG) — Taurus T3 Max — +01:54:20
7. Kevin Benavides / Lisandro Sisterna (ARG/ARG) — Taurus T3 Max — +02:32:50
8. Dania Akeel / Sébastien Delaunay (KSA/FRA) — Taurus T3 Max — +02:36:50
9. Paul Spierings / Jan Pieter van der Stelt (NLD/NLD) — Taurus EVO Max — +03:12:46
10. David Zille / Sebastian Cesana (GER/ITA) — Taurus T3 Max — +03:28:25
SSV (T4) – Top 10
1. Brock Heger / Max Eddy (USA/USA) — Polaris RZR Pro R — 55:11:56
2. Kyle Chaney / Jacob Argubright (USA/USA) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +01:01:39
3. Xavier de Soultrait / Martin Bonnet (FRA/FRA) — Polaris RZR Pro R — +01:25:25
4. Joao Monteiro / Nuno Morais (POR/POR) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +02:27:25
5. Jeremías Gonzalez Ferioli / Gonzalo Rinaldi (ARG/ARG) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +02:50:44
6. Francisco López Contardo / Álvaro Leon (CHI/ESP) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +02:58:54
7. Manuel Andújar / Andres Frini (ARG/ARG) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +03:37:37
8. Johan Kristoffersson / Ola Fløene (SWE/NOR) — Polaris RZR Pro R — +04:00:24
9. Maciej Oleksowicz (POL) — Can-Am — +08:44:54 10. Gauthier Honvault (FRA) — Can-Am — +09:15:52 
Trucks – Top 10
1. Vaidotas Žala (LTU) — Iveco — 56:58:38
2. Ales Loprais (CZE) — Iveco — +00:20:18
3. Mitchel van den Brink (NLD) — MMT — +00:29:03
4. Martin Macik (CZE) — MMT — +04:36:06
5. Michal Valtr (CZE) — Iveco — +05:13:08
6. Richard de Groot (NLD) — MMT — +06:18:19
7. Kay Huzink (NLD) — Renault — +06:18:56
8. Martin van den Brink (NLD) — MMT — +07:42:07
9. Claudio Bellina (ITA) — MMT — +14:39:43
10. Marnix Leeuw (NLD) — Iveco — +16:54:37
1. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Fabian Lurquin (QAT/BEL) — Dacia Sandrider — 48:56:53
2. Nani Roma / Alex Haro (ESP) — Ford Raptor — +00:09:42
3. Mattias Ekström / Emil Bergkvist (SWE/SWE) — Ford Raptor — +00:14:33
4. Sébastien Loeb / Edouard Boulanger (FRA/FRA) — Dacia Sandrider — +00:15:10
5. Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz (ESP/ESP) — Ford Raptor — +00:28:30
6. Mathieu Serradori / Loïc Minaudier (FRA/FRA) — Century CR7 — +00:45:02
7. Lucas Moraes / Dennis Zenz (BRA/NLD) — Dacia Sandrider — +00:47:50
8. Toby Price / Armand Monleon (AUS/FRA) — Toyota Hilux GR — +00:52:07
9. Seth Quintero / Andrew Short (USA/USA) — Toyota Hilux GR — +01:15:02
10. Saood Variawa / François Cazalet (ZAF/FRA) — Toyota Hilux IMT EVO — +01:23:36
Challenger (T3) – Top 10
1. Pau Navarro / Jan Rosa (ESP/ESP) — Taurus T3 Max — 54:46:21
2. Yasir Seaidan / Xavier Flick (KSA/FRA) — Taurus EVO Max — +00:23:22
3. Nicolás Cavigliasso / Valen Pertegarini (ARG/ARG) — Taurus EVO Max — +00:35:52
4. Lucas del Rio / Bruno Jacomy (ESP/FRA) — Taurus T3 Max — +00:37:09
5. Puck Klaassen / Augusto Sanz (NLD/ESP) — GRallyteam G-Ecko — +00:54:12
6. Ignacio Casale / Carlos Sachs (CHI/ARG) — Taurus T3 Max — +01:54:20
7. Kevin Benavides / Lisandro Sisterna (ARG/ARG) — Taurus T3 Max — +02:32:50
8. Dania Akeel / Sébastien Delaunay (KSA/FRA) — Taurus T3 Max — +02:36:50
9. Paul Spierings / Jan Pieter van der Stelt (NLD/NLD) — Taurus EVO Max — +03:12:46
10. David Zille / Sebastian Cesana (GER/ITA) — Taurus T3 Max — +03:28:25
SSV (T4) – Top 10
1. Brock Heger / Max Eddy (USA/USA) — Polaris RZR Pro R — 55:11:56
2. Kyle Chaney / Jacob Argubright (USA/USA) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +01:01:39
3. Xavier de Soultrait / Martin Bonnet (FRA/FRA) — Polaris RZR Pro R — +01:25:25
4. Joao Monteiro / Nuno Morais (POR/POR) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +02:27:25
5. Jeremías Gonzalez Ferioli / Gonzalo Rinaldi (ARG/ARG) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +02:50:44
6. Francisco López Contardo / Álvaro Leon (CHI/ESP) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +02:58:54
7. Manuel Andújar / Andres Frini (ARG/ARG) — BRP Can-Am Maverick R — +03:37:37
8. Johan Kristoffersson / Ola Fløene (SWE/NOR) — Polaris RZR Pro R — +04:00:24
9. Maciej Oleksowicz (POL) — Can-Am — +08:44:54 10. Gauthier Honvault (FRA) — Can-Am — +09:15:52 
Trucks – Top 10
1. Vaidotas Žala (LTU) — Iveco — 56:58:38
2. Ales Loprais (CZE) — Iveco — +00:20:18
3. Mitchel van den Brink (NLD) — MMT — +00:29:03
4. Martin Macik (CZE) — MMT — +04:36:06
5. Michal Valtr (CZE) — Iveco — +05:13:08
6. Richard de Groot (NLD) — MMT — +06:18:19
7. Kay Huzink (NLD) — Renault — +06:18:56
8. Martin van den Brink (NLD) — MMT — +07:42:07
9. Claudio Bellina (ITA) — MMT — +14:39:43
10. Marnix Leeuw (NLD) — Iveco — +16:54:37
Stock Cars category: Rokas Baciuška (Defender) — 58:09:45 (with Sara Price second)
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