Lead change on 2026 Dakar Rally as win contender stops to help rival

Ricky Brabec leads the 2026 Dakar Rally despite stopping to help Daniel Sanders on Stage 10.

The Australian’s hopes of clawing back the time lost today in the remaining three stages are also dashed by injuries he’s picked up in the crash. His target now is on finishing the rally.

Behind, Adrien van Beveren has overhauled Nacho Cornejo for sixth after the South African recorded his first stage win of the 2026 Dakar. He’s 20 minutes behind teammate Howes.

Things were even worse for Carlos Sainz and Mattias Ekstrom, both running into trouble on Wednesday and finishing 22nd and 52nd, respectively.

Sainz in particular had been consistently ticking off the stages so far, but he now finds himself 39 minutes off the lead three stages from the finish. Ekstrom is only slightly better off: sixth and 34’19’’ off the lead.

Sebastien Loeb lost time to the rally lead today but gained positions, jumping up to fourth. The Frenchman is now 23 minutes behind his Dacia teammate, Al-Attiyah, and just over behind Roma in the final podium position.

Toby Price also had a tough Stage 10, dropping 40 minutes to the stage winning time. He holds on to a top-10 spot in ninth.

Thursday’s 11th stage of the rally will run for 882km, although the majority of that is liaison; 346km of special await.