Sainz's Ford flips in Dakar Rally setback
In a dramatic turn during the 2025 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, defending champion Carlos Sainz's Ford Raptor flipped in the desert dunes during the 48-hour Chrono stage. The 62-year-old Spanish veteran, pursuing his fifth Dakar victory with a different manufacturer, stopped for over 20 minutes at the 327 km mark of the 947 km stage near Bisha.
Sainz, starting eighth overall, fell to 15th at the last checkpoint after the incident, with unclear damage to his vehicle. His Ford teammate Nani Roma took the virtual lead at the 413km fuel stop, followed by local favorite Yazeed Al Rajhi and five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah in his Dacia.
Nine-time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb also faced setbacks, stopping 409 km into the stage. After receiving assistance from Cristina Gutiérrez's Dacia Sandrider, Loeb finished 17th.
The notorious 48-hour Chrono stage, spanning 1,000km over two days, witnessed Al-Attiyah and Al Rajhi locked in an intense battle for over 600 km until the 5pm racing cut-off. Al Rajhi secured a narrow lead of just over a minute ahead of Al-Attiyah. South African Hein Lategan maintained fourth position in his Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux.
The prestigious rally, entirely within Saudi Arabia, will conclude on January 17 at Shubaytah in the eastern Empty Quarter. The challenging desert terrain continues to test the limits of both vehicles and drivers, with multiple competitors facing difficulties in the harsh conditions. The incident-filled stage has reshuffled the standings, adding more excitement to this already intense competition.
The race's unique format and extreme conditions have once again proven why the Dakar Rally maintains its reputation as one of the most challenging and unpredictable motorsport events in the world.
