Nasser Al-Attiyah Secures Sixth Dakar Rally Title After Tense Final Stage

Nasser Al-Attiyah sealed his sixth overall Dakar Rally victory after successfully navigating a tense and unforgiving final stage of Dakar Rally 2026, confirming his status as the dominant figure of the modern era of cross-country rallying. Driving the Dacia Sandrider, the Qatari star preserved his advantage over Nani Roma to claim the Touareg trophy once again.

Heading into the 105-kilometre final special stage, Al-Attiyah’s objective was clear: avoid trouble and protect his 16-minute overall lead. However, Dakar’s final day rarely allows for calm conclusions. Early drama elsewhere in the rally underlined the risks, as navigational mistakes in other categories served as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change, even in the closing kilometres.

Al-Attiyah himself experienced a moment of vulnerability between kilometres 21 and 43, where he temporarily lost around eight minutes of his buffer. Rather than reacting aggressively, he opted for a measured and disciplined approach, prioritising clean navigation and mechanical sympathy. That strategic restraint proved decisive, allowing him to reach the finish line with a 9 minutes 42 seconds advantage over Roma.

The result marks Al-Attiyah’s sixth Dakar Rally victory, further cementing his legacy and narrowing the gap to the all-time benchmark set by Stephane Peterhansel in the car category. While Peterhansel still holds eight overall car wins, Al-Attiyah’s consistency across multiple regulations and manufacturers places him firmly among the greatest Dakar competitors of all time.

Although he did not win the final stage, Al-Attiyah’s overall success came without adding to the long-standing record for most Dakar stage victories. He remains tied on 50 stage wins with Peterhansel and Ari Vatanen, a statistic that underlines both his longevity and relentless competitiveness at the highest level.

Behind him, Roma delivered one of his most complete Dakar campaigns in recent years, securing second place overall for Ford after maintaining pressure throughout the final stages. Mattias Ekstrom completed the overall podium in third place and capped his rally by winning the final stage, showcasing Ford’s strong late-rally pace.

Nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb finished fourth overall, narrowly missing the podium but reinforcing Dacia’s competitive strength across the full duration of the rally. Just behind him was Carlos Sainz, the four-time Dakar winner, whose fifth-place finish closed another demanding Dakar campaign.

Dakar Rally 2026 once again confirmed its reputation as the most brutal and unpredictable event in world motorsport. Victory was not decided by outright speed alone, but by a combination of experience, composure under pressure, and strategic intelligence. Al-Attiyah demonstrated all three in abundance, particularly when the rally entered its most critical phase.

With this sixth triumph, Nasser Al-Attiyah not only strengthens his place in Dakar history but also validates Dacia’s emergence as a genuine powerhouse in cross-country rallying. As the dust settles in Yanbu, the message from Dakar 2026 is unmistakable: mastery of the desert still belongs to those who can manage risk as well as they manage speed.

Final Overall Classification – Dakar Rally 2026 (Cars)