DAKAR 2025

Stage 11: Mattias Ekström wins, Yazeed Al-Rajhi is overall leader again

Another stage, but a change in the lead of the overall classification for Ultimate. Mattias Ekström gave Ford a second stage win, but at the top of the Dakar, Yazeed Al-Rajhi has overtaken Henk Lategan for the race lead and heads into the final day with more than a six-minute advantage. João Ferreira finished in eighth place.

The start of the special was delayed due to fog that prevented the helicopter from taking off for safety reasons. The beginning of the special was marked by strategic plays. Nani Roma stopped after 10km to help his M-Sport teammates, while Cristina Gutierrez also stopped early to support Nasser Al Attiyah for Dacia. As Ekström and Al Attiyah passed their respective colleagues, they started walking again, a clear sign that they would be supporting what was to come in this stage.

The 276km route remained unchanged, but the 3pm stop at the refuelling point at kilometre 138 would see a slight difference, with stragglers heading straight to Shubaytah.

Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah / Edouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandrider) started the stage well and set the fastest provisional time at 45km, ahead of Mattias Ekström / Emil Bergkvist (Ford Raptor) and Yazeed Al-Rajhi / Timo Gottschalk (Toyota Hilux Overdrive). ). At 94km, Ekström was already the leader, with Al-Rajhi in second, followed by two Challenger cars and one SSV. Henk Lategan (ZAF)/Brett Cummings (Toyota GR DKR Hilux) were sixth in the stage, third in Ultimate, ahead of Mitch Guthrie (USA)/Kellon Walch (Ford Raptor) and Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah /Edouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandrider).

The trio of Ekström, Al-Rajhi and Al-Attiyah remained in front until kn 209. In the last control before the arrival of assistance. Ekström had a 1min25sec lead over Al-Attiyah, with Al-Rajhi dropping to third, followed by Guthrie and Lategan who continued to lose time.

At the end of the stage, Ekström was the winner, followed by Al-Attiyah, with Al-Rajhi closing the podium but moving up to first place overall. Guthrie was fourth and Lategan fifth, just over nine minutes ahead of the benchmark. The Portuguese duo João Ferreira-Filipe Palmeiro (Mini Jcw Rally 3.0d/X-Raid Mini JCW Team) had an excellent stage and finished in sixth place.

The overall accounts...Lategan started the stage 2min27sec behind Al-Rajhi, with Ekström in third at 26 min and Al-Attiyah in fourth at 30 minutes behind the leader. After today's stage, Al-Rajhi leads with a 6min11sec advantage over Lategan. Ekström is 22 minutes off the lead and Al-Attiyah is almost 27 minutes behind. The fight for victory at Dakar 2025 is wide open, but Al-Rajhi took an important step forward today. João Ferreira managed to move up one place and is now eighth overall.

Mundoquatrorodas