Mathieu Serradori Makes History as Al Attiyah Extends Dakar 2026 Lead

Moto Rally, Sportrik Media - Stage 10 of the Dakar Rally 2026 delivered a defining moment in the Ultimate category, combining a historic stage victory with a decisive shift in the overall standings. Mathieu Serradori claimed a landmark win, while Nasser Al Attiyah emerged as the strategic winner of the day by significantly extending his advantage in the general classification.

According to official timing updates and reports released by Dakar Rally Live – World Rally-Raid Championship, Serradori placed his Century CR7 at the top of the timesheets to secure victory on Stage 10. The result represents the first-ever Dakar stage win for South African manufacturer Century Racing, marking a historic breakthrough in a category traditionally dominated by factory-backed programmes.

The same official source confirmed that this victory carries deep significance on a personal level for Serradori. It is his second Dakar stage win, following his first success in 2020, and a milestone moment for his navigator Loic Minaudier, who celebrated his maiden Dakar stage victory. In the context of Ultimate competition, where reliability and execution often outweigh outright pace, Serradori’s performance stands as one of the most complete displays of Dakar 2026 so far.

Despite finishing second on the stage, Al Attiyah consolidated his position at the top of the overall standings. Based on the provisional general classification published by the official Dakar timing service, the Dacia Sandrider driver now leads the rally by 12 minutes over Henk Lategan and by 12 minutes 50 seconds over Nani Roma, who has dropped to third overall.

According to the same Dakar Live data, the shift in the standings was driven by Al Attiyah’s ability to capitalise on time losses suffered by his closest rivals on Stage 10. Rather than pushing for outright stage victory, the reigning champion once again prioritised overall rally management, a strategy that has repeatedly proven effective during the attritional final phase of the Dakar.

Stage 10 also proved pivotal for Sebastien Loeb. Official results indicate that the nine-time World Rally Champion used the stage as a launchpad to climb to fourth place overall. Although he remains 23 minutes and 04 seconds behind the leader, Loeb’s progression strengthens his strategic position and keeps him firmly within reach of the podium battle as the rally approaches its conclusion.

Taken together, the narrative emerging from official Dakar communications highlights two contrasting realities in the Ultimate class. On one hand, Serradori’s stage win underscores the possibility of rewriting the competitive hierarchy through flawless execution and mechanical resilience. On the other, Al Attiyah’s growing overall advantage reinforces the value of consistency, experience, and long-term strategy in one of the most demanding events in world motorsport.

As Dakar 2026 moves deeper into its final stages, every update released by the official timing service carries increasing weight. As reflected in Dakar Rally Live reports, this year’s rally is being decided not by raw speed alone, but by the ability to manage uncertainty, avoid critical errors, and exploit every strategic opportunity offered by the desert.